CPT code 26445: Tendon release, extensor, hand or finger2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $692.78 for 26445 in a facility. There’s no office rate.

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 26445 nationwide

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 26445 covers

Code 26445 represents surgical tenolysis of an extensor tendon in the hand or finger. A hand surgeon may perform it when scar tissue limits tendon glide and active movement, such as after a tendon injury, prior operation, or immobilization. The operative goal is to free the tendon from adhesions while preserving its function; this is different from repairing a torn tendon. The service is commonly performed in an operating room or outpatient surgery setting.

Select this code for the extensor tendon release and site documented in the operative report. Documentation should identify the affected tendon or tendons, the hand or finger location, the adhesions restricting motion, and the release performed. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued is paid in full and others are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment is barred by statutory restriction, and 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 Washington, DC area compares for 26445

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the facility rate for 26445 runs from $530.50 in Arkansas to $799.01 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $692.78. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

Every other payment area

26445 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

See 26445 in every payment locality

How the 26445 rate is calculated

Each of 26445’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 26445

26445 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 51

Codes related to 26445

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

How 26445 has changed in Washington, DC area

Price 26445 for an earlier date of service

Where the Washington, DC area rate applies

Washington, DC area is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1 cities and communities in District of Columbia. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

• Washington

Browse all communities in District of Columbia

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates