CPT code 26852: Knuckle fusion, with fixation and graft2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in New Mexico
Reports fusion of a finger’s metacarpophalangeal joint using internal fixation and bone graft, such as for painful arthritis or joint instability.
In New Mexico, Medicare pays $768.08 for 26852 in a facility. There’s no office rate.
Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 26852 nationwide
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
On this page 11 sections
What 26852 covers
This service fuses a metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint—the knuckle where a finger meets the hand—using internal fixation and bone graft. A hand or orthopedic surgeon may perform it for a painful, unstable, or severely damaged joint, including after trauma or when arthritis has made motion unreliable. The code’s graft component includes obtaining the autograft. It is for an MCP joint, not a thumb carpometacarpal joint or a finger interphalangeal joint.
Report the code for the MCP fusion with fixation and graft, identifying the digit and documenting the condition, operative work, fixation, and graft use. The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in its 90-day global period. When other 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. 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.
How New Mexico compares for 26852
Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the facility rate for 26852 runs from $704.63 in Arkansas to $1,003.92 in San Benito County, CA. New Mexico pays $768.08. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.
- New Mexico · this page$768.08
- Los Angeles, CA · California$872.63+$104.55
- Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$898.18+$130.10
- Miami, FL · Florida$896.27+$128.19
- Chicago, IL · Illinois$869.19+$101.11
- Manhattan, NY · New York$919.12+$151.04
- Alaska · Alaska$942.68+$174.60
Other areas in New Mexico first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.
Every other payment area
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| AlabamaAlabama | — | $714.70 |
| ArkansasArkansas | — | $704.63 |
| ArizonaArizona | — | $773.34 |
| Bakersfield, CACalifornia | — | $823.60 |
| Chico, CACalifornia | — | $819.11 |
| El Centro, CACalifornia | — | $819.37 |
| Fresno, CACalifornia | — | $819.11 |
| Hanford, CACalifornia | — | $819.11 |
| Madera, CACalifornia | — | $819.11 |
| Merced, CACalifornia | — | $819.11 |
| Modesto, CACalifornia | — | $819.11 |
| Napa, CACalifornia | — | $932.30 |
| Oxnard, CACalifornia | — | $866.28 |
| Redding, CACalifornia | — | $819.11 |
| Rest of CaliforniaCalifornia | — | $819.11 |
| Riverside, CACalifornia | — | $836.44 |
| Sacramento, CACalifornia | — | $855.17 |
| Salinas, CACalifornia | — | $851.92 |
| San Diego, CACalifornia | — | $868.91 |
| Marin County, CACalifornia | — | $980.87 |
| San Francisco, CACalifornia | — | $979.04 |
| San Benito County, CACalifornia | — | $1,003.92 |
| Santa Clara County, CACalifornia | — | $996.45 |
| San Luis Obispo, CACalifornia | — | $838.80 |
| Santa Cruz, CACalifornia | — | $874.73 |
| Santa Maria, CACalifornia | — | $854.28 |
| Santa Rosa, CACalifornia | — | $883.24 |
| Stockton, CACalifornia | — | $819.11 |
| Vallejo, CACalifornia | — | $929.67 |
| Visalia, CACalifornia | — | $819.11 |
| Yuba City, CACalifornia | — | $819.11 |
| ColoradoColorado | — | $816.21 |
| ConnecticutConnecticut | — | $847.50 |
| DelawareDelaware | — | $785.77 |
| Fort Lauderdale, FLFlorida | — | $844.68 |
| Rest of FloridaFlorida | — | $802.18 |
| Atlanta, GAGeorgia | — | $814.26 |
| Rest of GeorgiaGeorgia | — | $756.14 |
| Hawaii, Guam, HIHawaii | — | $835.37 |
| IowaIowa | — | $723.93 |
| IdahoIdaho | — | $730.30 |
| East St. Louis, ILIllinois | — | $813.17 |
| Rest of IllinoisIllinois | — | $785.71 |
| Suburban Chicago, ILIllinois | — | $851.14 |
| IndianaIndiana | — | $734.21 |
| KansasKansas | — | $724.64 |
| KentuckyKentucky | — | $739.87 |
| New Orleans, LALouisiana | — | $775.57 |
| Rest of LouisianaLouisiana | — | $740.36 |
| Metropolitan Boston, MAMassachusetts | — | $889.82 |
| Rest of MassachusettsMassachusetts | — | $813.17 |
| Baltimore area, MDMaryland | — | $845.99 |
| Rest of MarylandMaryland | — | $799.20 |
| Rest of MaineMaine | — | $738.31 |
| Southern Maine, MEMaine | — | $771.31 |
| Detroit, MIMichigan | — | $816.14 |
| Rest of MichiganMichigan | — | $762.37 |
| MinnesotaMinnesota | — | $770.70 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City, MOMissouri | — | $766.11 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MOMissouri | — | $773.40 |
| Rest of MissouriMissouri | — | $730.68 |
| MississippiMississippi | — | $717.59 |
| MontanaMontana | — | $795.17 |
| North CarolinaNorth Carolina | — | $745.18 |
| North DakotaNorth Dakota | — | $763.33 |
| NebraskaNebraska | — | $726.57 |
| New HampshireNew Hampshire | — | $807.33 |
| Northern New JerseyNew Jersey | — | $890.07 |
| Rest of New JerseyNew Jersey | — | $853.96 |
| NevadaNevada | — | $786.75 |
| NYC suburbs and Long Island, NYNew York | — | $946.06 |
| Poughkeepsie and northern NYC suburbs, NYNew York | — | $862.83 |
| Queens, NYNew York | — | $920.54 |
| Rest of New YorkNew York | — | $756.41 |
| OhioOhio | — | $755.87 |
| OklahomaOklahoma | — | $734.29 |
| Portland, OROregon | — | $836.88 |
| Rest of OregonOregon | — | $777.47 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia, PAPennsylvania | — | $829.53 |
| Rest of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania | — | $754.77 |
| Puerto RicoPuerto Rico | — | $799.51 |
| Rhode IslandRhode Island | — | $809.97 |
| South CarolinaSouth Carolina | — | $752.41 |
| South DakotaSouth Dakota | — | $759.57 |
| TennesseeTennessee | — | $728.71 |
| Austin, TXTexas | — | $816.27 |
| Beaumont, TXTexas | — | $750.24 |
| Brazoria, TXTexas | — | $781.59 |
| Dallas, TXTexas | — | $788.36 |
| Fort Worth, TXTexas | — | $784.48 |
| Galveston, TXTexas | — | $785.09 |
| Houston, TXTexas | — | $814.56 |
| Rest of TexasTexas | — | $766.70 |
| UtahUtah | — | $762.31 |
| VirginiaVirginia | — | $771.68 |
| Virgin Islands, VIUnited States Virgin Islands | — | $799.51 |
| VermontVermont | — | $764.13 |
| Rest of WashingtonWashington | — | $810.38 |
| King County, WAWashington | — | $903.56 |
| WisconsinWisconsin | — | $738.83 |
| West VirginiaWest Virginia | — | $758.46 |
| WyomingWyoming | — | $781.29 |
26852 rates by state
Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.
Explore a state
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
| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | No published base rate | 1 |
| AL | No published base rate | 1 |
| AR | No published base rate | 1 |
| AZ | No published base rate | 1 |
| CA | No published base rate | 29 |
| CO | No published base rate | 1 |
| CT | No published base rate | 1 |
| DC | No published base rate | 1 |
| DE | No published base rate | 1 |
| FL | No published base rate | 3 |
| GA | No published base rate | 2 |
| GU | No published base rate | 1 |
| HI | No published base rate | 1 |
| IA | No published base rate | 1 |
| ID | No published base rate | 1 |
| IL | No published base rate | 4 |
| IN | No published base rate | 1 |
| KS | No published base rate | 1 |
| KY | No published base rate | 1 |
| LA | No published base rate | 2 |
| MA | No published base rate | 2 |
| MD | No published base rate | 3 |
| ME | No published base rate | 2 |
| MI | No published base rate | 2 |
| MN | No published base rate | 1 |
| MO | No published base rate | 3 |
| MS | No published base rate | 1 |
| MT | No published base rate | 1 |
| NC | No published base rate | 1 |
| ND | No published base rate | 1 |
| NE | No published base rate | 1 |
| NH | No published base rate | 1 |
| NJ | No published base rate | 2 |
| NM | No published base rate | 1 |
| NV | No published base rate | 1 |
| NY | No published base rate | 5 |
| OH | No published base rate | 1 |
| OK | No published base rate | 1 |
| OR | No published base rate | 2 |
| PA | No published base rate | 2 |
| PR | No published base rate | 1 |
| RI | No published base rate | 1 |
| SC | No published base rate | 1 |
| SD | No published base rate | 1 |
| TN | No published base rate | 1 |
| TX | No published base rate | 8 |
| UT | No published base rate | 1 |
| VA | No published base rate | 2 |
| VI | No published base rate | 1 |
| VT | No published base rate | 1 |
| WA | No published base rate | 2 |
| WI | No published base rate | 1 |
| WV | No published base rate | 1 |
| WY | No published base rate | 1 |
How the 26852 rate is calculated
Each of 26852’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 · 26852
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work8.49
8.49 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense13.71
13.71 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.61
1.61 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
23.8100
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$795.28
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
The exact New Mexico inputs and CMS source lines
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
2,697
- Code
- 26852
- Physician work
- 8.49
- Practice expense
- 13.71
- Malpractice
- 1.61
GPCI2026.csv
77
- Locality
- New Mexico
- Physician work
- 1.000
- Practice expense
- 0.917
- Malpractice
- 1.201
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 8.49 | × 1.000 | 8.4900 |
| Practice expense | 13.71 | × 0.917 | 12.5721 |
| Malpractice | 1.61 | × 1.201 | 1.9336 |
| Total RVUs | 22.9957 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Facility rate, New Mexico$768.08
Facility: (8.49 × 1 + 13.71 × 0.917 + 1.61 × 1.201) × $33.4009 = $768.08
Payment rules and modifiers for 26852
26852 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 26852
Knuckle fusion, with fixation and graft
| 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) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| 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 · 26852
Knuckle fusion, with fixation and 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.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
26852 without 51 · national facility
$795.28
Knuckle fusion, with fixation and graft
26852-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$397.64
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%).
How 26852 has changed in New Mexico
26852 · Office / nonfacility
Rate unavailable
Effective 2026-10-01
A rate is unavailable in one of these releases, so a change cannot be calculated.
One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.
What changed, release by release
| Effective from | Office | Facility | CMS release |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $768.08 | RVU26D |
| 2026-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $768.08 | RVU26C |
| 2026-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $768.08 | RVU26B |
| 2026-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $768.08 | RVU26A |
| 2025-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $784.09 | RVU25D |
| 2025-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $784.09 | RVU25C |
| 2025-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $784.09 | RVU25B |
| 2025-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $784.09 | RVU25A |
| 2024-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $807.29 | RVU24D |
| 2024-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $807.29 | RVU24C |
| 2024-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $807.29 | RVU24B |
| 2024-03-09 | Not available in this setting | $807.29 | RVU24AR |
| 2024-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $794.11 | RVU24A |
| 2023-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $817.07 | RVU23D |
| 2023-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $817.07 | RVU23C |
| 2023-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $817.07 | RVU23B |
| 2023-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $817.07 | RVU23A |
| 2022-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $826.34 | RVU22D |
| 2022-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $826.34 | RVU22C |
| 2022-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $826.34 | RVU22B |
| 2022-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $826.34 | RVU22A |
| 2021-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $819.69 | RVU21D |
| 2021-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $819.69 | RVU21C |
| 2021-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $819.69 | RVU21B |
| 2021-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $819.69 | RVU21A |
| 2020-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $806.22 | RVU20D |
| 2020-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $806.22 | RVU20C |
| 2020-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $806.22 | RVU20B |
| 2020-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $806.22 | RVU20A |
| 2019-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $786.70 | RVU19D |
| 2019-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $786.70 | RVU19C |
| 2019-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $786.70 | RVU19B |
| 2019-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $786.70 | RVU19A |
| 2018-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $790.60 | RVU18D |
| 2018-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $790.60 | RVU18C |
| 2018-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $790.60 | RVU18B |
| 2018-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $790.60 | RVU18AR1 |
| 2017-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $782.28 | RVU17D |
| 2017-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $782.28 | RVU17C |
| 2017-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $782.28 | RVU17B |
| 2017-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $782.28 | RVU17A |
| 2016-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $775.74 | RVU16D |
| 2016-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $775.74 | RVU16C |
| 2016-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $775.74 | RVU16B |
| 2016-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $775.74 | RVU16A |
| 2015-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $777.88 | RVU15D |
| 2015-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $777.88 | RVU15C |
| 2015-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $774.01 | RVU15B |
| 2015-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $774.01 | RVU15A |
| 2014-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $762.13 | RVU14D |
| 2014-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $762.13 | RVU14C |
| 2014-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $762.13 | RVU14B |
| 2014-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $762.13 | RVU14A |
| 2013-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $756.96 | RVU13D |
| 2013-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $756.96 | RVU13C |
| 2013-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $756.96 | RVU13B |
| 2013-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $756.96 | RVU13AR |
Where the New Mexico rate applies
New Mexico is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 528 cities and communities in New Mexico. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.
- Abeytas
- Abiquiu
- Acomita Lake
- Adelino
- Agua Fria
- Alamillo
- Alamo
- Alamogordo
26852 billing questions
How does 26852 differ from 26850?
26852 describes MCP fusion using internal fixation and bone graft. 26850 is the related MCP fusion code without internal fixation.
Can the bone-graft harvest be billed separately?
The graft component of 26852 includes obtaining the autograft. Do not report a separate harvest charge for that included work.
Which joint does 26852 cover?
It covers a finger metacarpophalangeal joint at the knuckle. A thumb carpometacarpal fusion or a finger interphalangeal fusion is coded from a different part of the arthrodesis family.
What documentation supports reporting 26852?
The operative report should identify the digit and MCP joint, the fusion performed, use of internal fixation, and the bone graft. Document the clinical reason for fusion, such as joint pain or instability.
Should modifier 50 be used for bilateral MCP fusions?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code. Report the service according to the applicable coding instructions for each procedure performed.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
Under the standard multiple-procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are paid at 50% when performed in the same session.
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
Fee sheets
Put 26852 and the rest of your codes on one sheet
Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.
Build my fee sheet