CPT code 26700: MCP dislocation, without manipulation2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California
Reports closed treatment of a metacarpophalangeal joint dislocation when the provider manages the dislocation without manipulating or reducing the joint.
Medicare pays $420.51–$520.16 for 26700 in the office in California, from Chico, CA to San Benito County, CA. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
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 26700 covers
This code describes closed management of a dislocated metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint in a finger, without manipulation. It may be used when the joint is already aligned, such as after spontaneous reduction, and the provider proceeds with closed treatment and immobilization. Orthopedic and hand surgeons commonly provide this care; emergency physicians may also manage acute hand injuries. The code is for an MCP joint, not a proximal or distal interphalangeal joint.
Report one unit for each MCP joint treated. Documentation should identify the affected joint, establish the dislocation, and show that closed treatment was provided without manipulation. If the provider manipulates the joint to reduce it, consider 26705 instead. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code; assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted, 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 26700 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 payment localities
$420.51 to $520.16
29 of 29 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | $422.78 | $358.72 |
| Chico, CA | $420.51 | $356.45 |
| El Centro, CA | $420.65 | $356.59 |
| Fresno, CA | $420.51 | $356.45 |
| Hanford, CA | $420.51 | $356.45 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $449.19 | $380.04 |
| Madera, CA | $420.51 | $356.45 |
| Marin County, CA | $508.01 | $425.59 |
| Merced, CA | $420.51 | $356.45 |
| Modesto, CA | $420.51 | $356.45 |
| Napa, CA | $481.97 | $404.93 |
| Oxnard, CA | $446.18 | $377.09 |
| Redding, CA | $420.51 | $356.45 |
| Rest of California | $420.51 | $356.45 |
| Riverside, CA | $429.42 | $365.36 |
| Sacramento, CA | $439.93 | $371.95 |
| Salinas, CA | $438.29 | $370.54 |
| San Benito County, CA | $520.16 | $435.87 |
| San Diego, CA | $447.75 | $377.84 |
| San Francisco, CA | $507.07 | $424.65 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $431.46 | $364.88 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | $516.31 | $432.02 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $451.30 | $380.28 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $439.70 | $371.54 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $455.73 | $383.95 |
| Stockton, CA | $420.51 | $356.45 |
| Vallejo, CA | $480.61 | $403.57 |
| Visalia, CA | $420.51 | $356.45 |
| Yuba City, CA | $420.51 | $356.45 |
How the 26700 rate is calculated
Each of 26700’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 · 26700
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work3.73
3.73 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense7.62
7.62 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.83
0.83 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
12.1800
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$406.82
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 26700
26700 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 26700
MCP dislocation, without manipulation
| 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) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| 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 · 26700
MCP dislocation, without manipulation
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
26700 without 51 · national office
$406.82
MCP dislocation, without manipulation
26700-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$203.41
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%).
26700 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 26705Knuckle reductionManipulation requiring anesthesia
- Both cover closed treatment of an MCP dislocation, but 26705 is selected when the provider manipulates the joint; 26700 is for treatment without manipulation.
- 26706Knuckle dislocationPercutaneous fixation
- 26706 is for MCP dislocation treatment with percutaneous skeletal fixation. Use 26700 when closed treatment does not involve manipulation or fixation.
- 26715Knuckle dislocationOpen treatment, single joint
- 26715 describes open treatment of an MCP dislocation. Use 26700 when the provider treats the dislocation closed and without manipulation.
- 26770Finger dislocationWithout anesthesia
- 26770 concerns a finger dislocation at a different joint level, rather than a metacarpophalangeal joint dislocation.
26700 billing questions
When should 26700 be used instead of 26705?
Use 26700 for closed treatment without manipulation. If the provider manipulates the MCP joint to reduce the dislocation, 26705 is the relevant code.
How many units should be reported?
Report one unit for each MCP joint treated. The documentation should identify each affected joint and the treatment provided.
Can modifier 50 be used for dislocations on both hands?
No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code based on its descriptor and anatomy.
Is routine related postoperative care included?
Yes. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How are other same-session procedures handled?
Under the standard multiple procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are paid at 50%.
Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are 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
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