CPT code 26455: Tendon incision, open finger tenotomy2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $458.93 for 26455 nationally in a facility.

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

What 26455 covers

This operation intentionally divides a flexor tendon in a finger to change tendon pull, such as when a tendon-related contracture or deformity limits finger position. An orthopedic or hand surgeon typically performs it in an operating room, with the operative report identifying the finger, tendon, approach, and reason for division. It is a tendon procedure, not the tendon-sheath incision commonly performed for trigger finger, and not freeing a tendon from adhesions.

Select the code when the documented work is open tenotomy of a finger flexor tendon; distinguish it from procedures on the palm or extensor tendons. The note should establish the clinical problem and describe the tendon actually divided. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Report by the documented site rather than appending modifier 50. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; co-surgeon and team-surgery payment are unavailable.

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.

Where 26455 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

26455 rates by state

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

How the 26455 rate is calculated

Each of 26455’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 26455

26455 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

26455 compared with similar codes

How to choose

26450Tendon tenotomyFlexor tendon in palm

This code is for an open flexor tendon tenotomy in a finger. Code 26450 is used for the palm site.

26460Extensor tenotomyHand or finger tendon

This code concerns a finger flexor tendon; 26460 concerns an extensor tendon of the hand or finger.

26055Trigger finger releaseFinger tendon sheath

Use 26055 for trigger finger release involving the tendon sheath. Use 26455 when the documented procedure divides the finger tendon itself.

26440Flexor tenolysisPalm and finger

Code 26440 describes freeing a flexor tendon from adhesions. It is not the code for intentional division of the tendon.

Codes related to 26455

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

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