CPT code 26440: Flexor tenolysis, palm and finger2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in South Carolina
Surgical release of adhesions limiting flexor tendon glide in the palm or finger, reported for each tendon treated.
In South Carolina, Medicare pays $604.19 for 26440 in a facility. There’s no office rate.
Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 26440 nationwide
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
On this page 11 sections
What 26440 covers
This operation frees a flexor tendon from scar tissue that restricts its movement through the palm or finger. A hand surgeon typically performs it when adhesions remain after a tendon injury or repair and limit active motion. The surgeon exposes the involved tendon and releases the surrounding scar while preserving the tendon and nearby structures. The service may be performed in a hospital or ambulatory surgery setting.
Report the code for each flexor tendon released in the palm and finger, and document the tendon, site, adhesions, and release performed. Use the more extensive-dissection sibling when the operative work meets that distinction. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.
How South Carolina compares for 26440
Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the facility rate for 26440 runs from $564.68 in Arkansas to $841.85 in San Benito County, CA. South Carolina pays $604.19. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.
- South Carolina · this page$604.19
- Los Angeles, CA · California$719.74+$115.55
- Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$734.11+$129.92
- Miami, FL · Florida$709.81+$105.62
- Chicago, IL · Illinois$687.55+$83.36
- Manhattan, NY · New York$743.87+$139.68
- Alaska · Alaska$741.01+$136.82
Other areas in South Carolina first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.
Every other payment area
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| AlabamaAlabama | — | $573.40 |
| ArkansasArkansas | — | $564.68 |
| ArizonaArizona | — | $624.30 |
| Bakersfield, CACalifornia | — | $675.77 |
| Chico, CACalifornia | — | $673.10 |
| El Centro, CACalifornia | — | $673.26 |
| Fresno, CACalifornia | — | $673.10 |
| Hanford, CACalifornia | — | $673.10 |
| Madera, CACalifornia | — | $673.10 |
| Merced, CACalifornia | — | $673.10 |
| Modesto, CACalifornia | — | $673.10 |
| Napa, CACalifornia | — | $778.18 |
| Oxnard, CACalifornia | — | $715.80 |
| Redding, CACalifornia | — | $673.10 |
| Rest of CaliforniaCalifornia | — | $673.10 |
| Riverside, CACalifornia | — | $683.43 |
| Sacramento, CACalifornia | — | $705.94 |
| Salinas, CACalifornia | — | $703.33 |
| San Diego, CACalifornia | — | $719.73 |
| Marin County, CACalifornia | — | $822.70 |
| San Francisco, CACalifornia | — | $821.61 |
| San Benito County, CACalifornia | — | $841.85 |
| Santa Clara County, CACalifornia | — | $837.39 |
| San Luis Obispo, CACalifornia | — | $692.13 |
| Santa Cruz, CACalifornia | — | $726.43 |
| Santa Maria, CACalifornia | — | $705.92 |
| Santa Rosa, CACalifornia | — | $733.70 |
| Stockton, CACalifornia | — | $673.10 |
| Vallejo, CACalifornia | — | $776.61 |
| Visalia, CACalifornia | — | $673.10 |
| Yuba City, CACalifornia | — | $673.10 |
| ColoradoColorado | — | $665.95 |
| ConnecticutConnecticut | — | $686.80 |
| DelawareDelaware | — | $634.92 |
| Fort Lauderdale, FLFlorida | — | $674.30 |
| Rest of FloridaFlorida | — | $639.29 |
| Atlanta, GAGeorgia | — | $656.66 |
| Rest of GeorgiaGeorgia | — | $600.99 |
| Hawaii, Guam, HIHawaii | — | $689.76 |
| IowaIowa | — | $585.68 |
| IdahoIdaho | — | $590.33 |
| East St. Louis, ILIllinois | — | $639.74 |
| Rest of IllinoisIllinois | — | $622.18 |
| Suburban Chicago, ILIllinois | — | $680.51 |
| IndianaIndiana | — | $593.84 |
| KansasKansas | — | $584.24 |
| KentuckyKentucky | — | $590.78 |
| New Orleans, LALouisiana | — | $620.88 |
| Rest of LouisianaLouisiana | — | $590.39 |
| Metropolitan Boston, MAMassachusetts | — | $731.85 |
| Rest of MassachusettsMassachusetts | — | $662.27 |
| Baltimore area, MDMaryland | — | $685.23 |
| Rest of MarylandMaryland | — | $646.99 |
| Rest of MaineMaine | — | $595.11 |
| Southern Maine, MEMaine | — | $626.82 |
| Detroit, MIMichigan | — | $649.14 |
| Rest of MichiganMichigan | — | $608.27 |
| MinnesotaMinnesota | — | $632.89 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City, MOMissouri | — | $614.90 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MOMissouri | — | $621.45 |
| Rest of MissouriMissouri | — | $580.73 |
| MississippiMississippi | — | $572.75 |
| MontanaMontana | — | $642.57 |
| North CarolinaNorth Carolina | — | $601.41 |
| North DakotaNorth Dakota | — | $623.59 |
| NebraskaNebraska | — | $588.61 |
| New HampshireNew Hampshire | — | $656.77 |
| Northern New JerseyNew Jersey | — | $726.21 |
| Rest of New JerseyNew Jersey | — | $693.18 |
| New MexicoNew Mexico | — | $612.35 |
| NevadaNevada | — | $637.72 |
| NYC suburbs and Long Island, NYNew York | — | $764.51 |
| Poughkeepsie and northern NYC suburbs, NYNew York | — | $698.97 |
| Queens, NYNew York | — | $748.10 |
| Rest of New YorkNew York | — | $610.98 |
| OhioOhio | — | $604.39 |
| OklahomaOklahoma | — | $588.13 |
| Portland, OROregon | — | $686.24 |
| Rest of OregonOregon | — | $631.34 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia, PAPennsylvania | — | $669.99 |
| Rest of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania | — | $604.58 |
| Puerto RicoPuerto Rico | — | $647.02 |
| Rhode IslandRhode Island | — | $656.97 |
| South DakotaSouth Dakota | — | $621.34 |
| TennesseeTennessee | — | $587.51 |
| Austin, TXTexas | — | $664.98 |
| Beaumont, TXTexas | — | $600.53 |
| Brazoria, TXTexas | — | $632.94 |
| Dallas, TXTexas | — | $637.82 |
| Fort Worth, TXTexas | — | $633.81 |
| Galveston, TXTexas | — | $635.36 |
| Houston, TXTexas | — | $652.94 |
| Rest of TexasTexas | — | $616.95 |
| UtahUtah | — | $612.81 |
| VirginiaVirginia | — | $625.68 |
| Virgin Islands, VIUnited States Virgin Islands | — | $647.02 |
| VermontVermont | — | $622.37 |
| Rest of WashingtonWashington | — | $660.61 |
| King County, WAWashington | — | $745.63 |
| WisconsinWisconsin | — | $601.86 |
| West VirginiaWest Virginia | — | $598.48 |
| WyomingWyoming | — | $634.30 |
26440 rates by state
Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.
Explore a state
Local rates. Clear comparisons.
Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.
View every state and territory as a table
| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | No published base rate | 1 |
| AL | No published base rate | 1 |
| AR | No published base rate | 1 |
| AZ | No published base rate | 1 |
| CA | No published base rate | 29 |
| CO | No published base rate | 1 |
| CT | No published base rate | 1 |
| DC | No published base rate | 1 |
| DE | No published base rate | 1 |
| FL | No published base rate | 3 |
| GA | No published base rate | 2 |
| GU | No published base rate | 1 |
| HI | No published base rate | 1 |
| IA | No published base rate | 1 |
| ID | No published base rate | 1 |
| IL | No published base rate | 4 |
| IN | No published base rate | 1 |
| KS | No published base rate | 1 |
| KY | No published base rate | 1 |
| LA | No published base rate | 2 |
| MA | No published base rate | 2 |
| MD | No published base rate | 3 |
| ME | No published base rate | 2 |
| MI | No published base rate | 2 |
| MN | No published base rate | 1 |
| MO | No published base rate | 3 |
| MS | No published base rate | 1 |
| MT | No published base rate | 1 |
| NC | No published base rate | 1 |
| ND | No published base rate | 1 |
| NE | No published base rate | 1 |
| NH | No published base rate | 1 |
| NJ | No published base rate | 2 |
| NM | No published base rate | 1 |
| NV | No published base rate | 1 |
| NY | No published base rate | 5 |
| OH | No published base rate | 1 |
| OK | No published base rate | 1 |
| OR | No published base rate | 2 |
| PA | No published base rate | 2 |
| PR | No published base rate | 1 |
| RI | No published base rate | 1 |
| SC | No published base rate | 1 |
| SD | No published base rate | 1 |
| TN | No published base rate | 1 |
| TX | No published base rate | 8 |
| UT | No published base rate | 1 |
| VA | No published base rate | 2 |
| VI | No published base rate | 1 |
| VT | No published base rate | 1 |
| WA | No published base rate | 2 |
| WI | No published base rate | 1 |
| WV | No published base rate | 1 |
| WY | No published base rate | 1 |
How the 26440 rate is calculated
Each of 26440’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.
How the rate is built · 26440
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work5.03
5.03 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense13.25
13.25 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.96
0.96 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
19.2400
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$642.63
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
The exact South Carolina inputs and CMS source lines
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
2,597
- Code
- 26440
- Physician work
- 5.03
- Practice expense
- 13.25
- Malpractice
- 0.96
GPCI2026.csv
93
- Locality
- South Carolina
- Physician work
- 1.000
- Practice expense
- 0.924
- Malpractice
- 0.850
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 5.03 | × 1.000 | 5.0300 |
| Practice expense | 13.25 | × 0.924 | 12.2430 |
| Malpractice | 0.96 | × 0.850 | 0.8160 |
| Total RVUs | 18.0890 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Facility rate, South Carolina$604.19
Facility: (5.03 × 1 + 13.25 × 0.924 + 0.96 × 0.85) × $33.4009 = $604.19
Payment rules and modifiers for 26440
26440 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 26440
Flexor tenolysis, palm and finger
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.69/0.21 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 26440
Flexor tenolysis, palm and finger
90-day global period ends
Dec 30, 2026
Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
26440 without 51 · national facility
$642.63
Flexor tenolysis, palm and finger
26440-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$321.32
When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).
How 26440 has changed in South Carolina
26440 · Office / nonfacility
Rate unavailable
Effective 2026-10-01
A rate is unavailable in one of these releases, so a change cannot be calculated.
One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.
What changed, release by release
| Effective from | Office | Facility | CMS release |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $604.19 | RVU26D |
| 2026-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $604.19 | RVU26C |
| 2026-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $604.19 | RVU26B |
| 2026-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $604.19 | RVU26A |
| 2025-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $591.52 | RVU25D |
| 2025-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $591.52 | RVU25C |
| 2025-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $591.52 | RVU25B |
| 2025-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $591.52 | RVU25A |
| 2024-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $612.99 | RVU24D |
| 2024-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $612.99 | RVU24C |
| 2024-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $612.99 | RVU24B |
| 2024-03-09 | Not available in this setting | $612.99 | RVU24AR |
| 2024-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $602.98 | RVU24A |
| 2023-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $622.33 | RVU23D |
| 2023-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $622.33 | RVU23C |
| 2023-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $622.33 | RVU23B |
| 2023-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $622.33 | RVU23A |
| 2022-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $629.92 | RVU22D |
| 2022-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $629.92 | RVU22C |
| 2022-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $629.92 | RVU22B |
| 2022-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $629.92 | RVU22A |
| 2021-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $627.17 | RVU21D |
| 2021-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $627.17 | RVU21C |
| 2021-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $627.17 | RVU21B |
| 2021-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $627.17 | RVU21A |
| 2020-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $598.63 | RVU20D |
| 2020-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $598.63 | RVU20C |
| 2020-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $598.63 | RVU20B |
| 2020-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $598.63 | RVU20A |
| 2019-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $576.69 | RVU19D |
| 2019-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $576.69 | RVU19C |
| 2019-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $576.69 | RVU19B |
| 2019-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $576.69 | RVU19A |
| 2018-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $580.78 | RVU18D |
| 2018-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $580.78 | RVU18C |
| 2018-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $580.78 | RVU18B |
| 2018-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $580.78 | RVU18AR1 |
| 2017-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $577.61 | RVU17D |
| 2017-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $577.61 | RVU17C |
| 2017-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $577.61 | RVU17B |
| 2017-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $577.61 | RVU17A |
| 2016-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $577.54 | RVU16D |
| 2016-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $577.54 | RVU16C |
| 2016-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $577.54 | RVU16B |
| 2016-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $577.54 | RVU16A |
| 2015-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $579.63 | RVU15D |
| 2015-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $579.63 | RVU15C |
| 2015-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $576.74 | RVU15B |
| 2015-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $576.74 | RVU15A |
| 2014-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $567.43 | RVU14D |
| 2014-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $567.43 | RVU14C |
| 2014-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $567.43 | RVU14B |
| 2014-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $567.43 | RVU14A |
| 2013-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $572.19 | RVU13D |
| 2013-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $572.19 | RVU13C |
| 2013-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $572.19 | RVU13B |
| 2013-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $572.19 | RVU13AR |
Where the South Carolina rate applies
South Carolina is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 475 cities and communities in South Carolina. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.
- Abbeville
- Abney Crossroads
- Adams Run
- Aiken
- Alcolu
- Allendale
- Anderson
- Andrews
26440 billing questions
How is this code distinguished from 26442?
Both describe flexor tendon adhesion release in the palm and finger. Use 26442 when the operative work requires the extensive dissection specified for that sibling code.
Is the code reported once per hand or once per tendon?
It is reported for each tendon released. The operative note should identify each treated tendon and its location.
Can modifier 50 be used when both hands are treated?
No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply, and modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code.
Are related postoperative visits included?
Yes. The 90-day global period includes related postoperative care and the day-before preoperative visit.
Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be billed?
Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
What happens when this is performed with another procedure in the same session?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction.
Where these rates come from
FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.
CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027
Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
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