CPT code 26455: Tendon incision, open finger tenotomy2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Reports open division of a finger flexor tendon when a hand surgeon intentionally releases the tendon to address a documented finger deformity or contracture.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 26455 in Florida.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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On this page 9 sections
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 in Florida
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | Unavailable | $481.62 |
| Miami, FL | Unavailable | $507.01 |
| Rest of Florida | Unavailable | $456.74 |
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.
How the rate is built · 26455
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work3.67
3.67 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense9.38
9.38 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.69
0.69 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
13.7400
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$458.93
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 26455
26455 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 26455
Tendon incision, open finger tenotomy
| 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) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| 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 · 26455
Tendon incision, open finger tenotomy
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
26455 without 51 · national facility
$458.93
Tendon incision, open finger tenotomy
26455-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$229.47
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%).
26455 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
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.
26455 billing questions
How is this different from trigger finger release?
This code represents division of a finger flexor tendon. Trigger finger release incises the tendon sheath, so report the code that matches the structure actually treated.
How does this differ from tenolysis?
Tenotomy intentionally divides a tendon; tenolysis frees a tendon from adhesions to improve its glide. The operative report should support the procedure performed.
Should modifier 50 be used when both hands are treated?
No. CMS treats modifier 50 as inappropriate for this code. Document the side and finger treated for each service.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity. CMS does not permit co-surgeon or team-surgery payment for this code.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
Under the standard multiple-procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are paid at 50%.
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
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