CPT code 26548: Finger joint reconstruction, local tissue technique2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Reports local-tissue reconstruction of a finger interphalangeal collateral ligament to stabilize a chronically unstable joint when direct repair is inadequate.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 26548 in Texas.
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 26548 covers
Code 26548 describes operative reconstruction of a finger interphalangeal joint’s collateral ligament using local tissue, such as advancing or tightening available ligament or capsular tissue to restore stability. A hand surgeon typically performs the procedure for chronic joint instability after ligament injury when direct repair is inadequate and usable local tissue can provide support. It is an open operation, usually performed in an operating room.
The operative report should identify the finger and interphalangeal joint, describe the ligament deficiency and instability, and document the local-tissue reconstruction. Distinguish this technique from a tendon-graft reconstruction or a direct ligament repair. CMS assigns a 90-day major-surgery global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; 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.
Where 26548 pays more and less in Texas
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | Unavailable | $786.53 |
| Beaumont, TX | Unavailable | $722.00 |
| Brazoria, TX | Unavailable | $752.76 |
| Dallas, TX | Unavailable | $759.24 |
| Fort Worth, TX | Unavailable | $755.44 |
| Galveston, TX | Unavailable | $756.10 |
| Houston, TX | Unavailable | $784.11 |
| Rest of Texas | Unavailable | $738.12 |
How the 26548 rate is calculated
Each of 26548’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 · 26548
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work8.01
8.01 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense13.39
13.39 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.53
1.53 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
22.9300
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$765.88
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 26548
26548 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 26548
Finger joint reconstruction, local tissue technique
| 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 · 26548
Finger joint reconstruction, local tissue technique
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
26548 without 51 · national facility
$765.88
Finger joint reconstruction, local tissue technique
26548-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$382.94
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%).
26548 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 26545Finger joint reconstructionLigament reconstruction with graft
- Both involve local-tissue collateral ligament reconstruction, but 26545 is for the metacarpophalangeal joint; 26548 is for an interphalangeal joint.
- 26542Joint ligament repairWith tendon graft
- Choose 26548 when local tissue is used for the interphalangeal reconstruction. Code 26542 describes that joint reconstruction when a tendon graft is used.
- 26540Ligament repairMCP or IP joint
- Code 26540 describes collateral ligament repair. Code 26548 is for reconstruction with local tissue when repair alone is inadequate.
- 26535Finger joint surgeryWithout prosthetic implant
- Code 26535 describes interphalangeal joint arthroplasty; 26548 addresses collateral ligament instability through local-tissue reconstruction.
26548 billing questions
How does this differ from code 26542?
Code 26548 describes reconstruction using local tissue. Code 26542 is the related interphalangeal-joint reconstruction using a tendon graft.
When is this code more appropriate than 26540?
Use 26548 for reconstruction with local tissue when direct repair is inadequate. Code 26540 describes repair of a collateral ligament rather than this local-tissue reconstruction.
What should the operative note identify?
Document the affected finger and interphalangeal joint, the ligament instability or deficiency, and how local tissue was used to reconstruct it.
Can modifier 50 be reported for bilateral procedures?
No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply to this code, and modifier 50 is inappropriate.
How does the global period affect postoperative billing?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
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
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