CPT code 26498: Tendon transfer, finger flexor tendon2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $1,119.93 for 26498 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 26498 covers

A hand surgeon reroutes and attaches a functioning flexor tendon to a finger tendon or insertion to restore or rebalance active finger motion. The procedure may be considered when injury, nerve dysfunction, or paralysis has impaired finger flexion and tendon transfer is part of the reconstructive plan. It is generally performed in an operating room by an orthopedic or plastic surgeon with hand-surgery expertise.

Choose this code when the operative work is a transfer of a flexor tendon to a finger; distinguish it from an extensor tendon transfer and from procedures that lengthen, release, or realign a tendon. The operative report should identify the donor tendon, recipient site, finger, indication, and transfer performed. CMS 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 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; co-surgeons require 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 26498 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

26498 rates by state

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

How the 26498 rate is calculated

Each of 26498’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 26498

26498 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

26498 compared with similar codes

How to choose

26497Tendon transferFinger flexor tendon

Use 26498 for transfer of a finger flexor tendon and 26497 for transfer of a finger extensor tendon.

26492Tendon transferThumb with free tendon graft

26492 describes a tendon transfer with a graft. Choose based on the operation performed and whether grafting is part of the reconstruction.

26494Tendon transferHand tendon or muscle

26494 covers a hand tendon or muscle transfer with a different scope; 26498 is specific to transfer of a finger flexor tendon.

26480Tendon transferDorsal hand, no free graft

26480 concerns tendon transfer or transplant in the carpometacarpal area or dorsum of the hand, rather than a finger flexor transfer.

Codes related to 26498

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