CPT code 26615: Metacarpal fracture, open treatment, each bone2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California

CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 26615 in California.

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

What 26615 covers

This service covers surgical exposure and direct treatment of a fractured metacarpal, with internal fixation when performed. It is typically performed by an orthopedic or hand surgeon in an operating room when the fracture requires open treatment rather than closed reduction or percutaneous fixation. The code is reported for each metacarpal bone treated; the operative report should identify the involved bone and document the open approach, reduction, and fixation performed.

The code has 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. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery, and 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 26615 pays more and less in California

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

29 of 29 payment localities

How the 26615 rate is calculated

Each of 26615’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 26615

26615 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

26615 compared with similar codes

How to choose

26600Metacarpal fracture careSingle bone, no manipulation

Choose 26600 for closed treatment without manipulation. This code describes open treatment of the fracture.

26605Metacarpal fractureClosed treatment with manipulation

Choose 26605 when the fracture is treated closed with manipulation. This code applies when treatment is open.

26608Metacarpal fracturePercutaneous skeletal fixation

Choose 26608 for percutaneous skeletal fixation. This code is for open treatment, including internal fixation when performed.

Codes related to 26615

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