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CPT code 26485: Tendon transfer, palm, without free graft2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports relocation of a tendon within the palm to improve hand function when the surgeon performs the transfer without using a free tendon graft.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities569 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $806.97 for 26485 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 26485

Tendon transfer, palm, without free graft

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
7.69
Total RVUs
24.16
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$806.97

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 26485 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

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

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 26485 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 26485 covers

A hand surgeon relocates a tendon in the palm and secures it to a new site to restore or improve movement. This approach may be used when injury or nerve-related weakness has impaired hand function and a functioning tendon can be redirected to help perform the needed motion. The operative report should identify the tendons involved and describe the transfer and fixation.

Report the code for each qualifying tendon transferred in the palm without a free graft. Distinguish this work from a palmar transfer that uses a free graft and from transfers at other hand sites. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period: the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is 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.

Where 26485 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

26485 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$723.03
AlaskaUnavailable$945.91
ArizonaUnavailable$784.36
ArkansasUnavailable$712.51
Atlanta, GAUnavailable$825.62
Austin, TXUnavailable$830.94
Bakersfield, CAUnavailable$840.75
Baltimore area, MDUnavailable$859.29
Beaumont, TXUnavailable$758.39
Brazoria, TXUnavailable$793.71

26485 rates by state

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

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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
26485 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 26485 rate is calculated

Each of 26485’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 · 26485

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work7.69

7.69 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense15.00

15.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice1.47

1.47 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

24.1600

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$806.97

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 26485

26485 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 26485

Tendon transfer, palm, without free graft

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period090Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)2Paid.
Co-surgeons (62)1Permitted with supporting documentation.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.10/0.69/0.21Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 26485

Tendon transfer, palm, without free graft

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.

  • 24Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78Unplanned return to the operating room for a related complication
SurgeryVisit
Sep 23, 2026Jan 10, 2027

Pre-op dayGlobal period

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

26485 without 51 · national facility

$806.97

Tendon transfer, palm, without free graft

26485-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$403.49

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%).

When to use modifier 51

26485 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 26485

    Tendon transfer, palm, without free graft7.69 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 26489

    Tendon transfer, palm, with free graft9.61 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 26480

    Tendon transfer, dorsal hand, no free graft8.78 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 26483

    Tendon transfer, dorsal hand/CMC, with graft8.27 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

26489Tendon transferPalm, with free graft
Both describe palmar tendon transfer work. Choose 26485 when the transfer is performed without a free graft; 26489 is the graft-related sibling.
26480Tendon transferDorsal hand, no free graft
This code is for a transfer in the palm. Code 26480 addresses the carpometacarpal area or dorsum of the hand.
26483Tendon transferDorsal hand/CMC, with graft
Code 26483 is the related hand tendon transfer or graft option. Use the operative site and whether a free graft was used to distinguish it from a palmar transfer without graft.

Codes related to 26485

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

Codes related to 26485
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
26489Tendon transfer, palm, with free graftPalmar tendon transfer code for a procedure using a free graft.No office rate
26480Tendon transfer, dorsal hand, no free graftRelated tendon transfer code for the carpometacarpal area or dorsum of the hand.No office rate
26483Tendon transfer, dorsal hand/CMC, with graftRelated hand tendon transfer or graft code; distinguish by operative site and graft details.No office rate

26485 billing questions

How is this code distinguished from 26489?

This code describes a palmar tendon transfer without a free graft. Code 26489 is the related palmar transfer code for work involving a free graft.

What documentation supports reporting the transfer?

Document the palm location, the tendon transferred, the new attachment site, and the transfer and fixation performed. The record should make clear whether a free graft was used.

How many units are reported when more than one tendon is transferred?

The code is reported per tendon. The operative note should identify each tendon transferred in the palm without a free graft.

Should modifier 50 be used for transfers on both hands?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code; modifier 50 is not appropriate.

How does the 90-day global period affect postoperative visits?

The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global period.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeons are paid only when supporting documentation is provided; team surgery is not permitted.

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
RVUs for 26485PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,612 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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