CPT code 28011: Toe tendon release, multiple tendons2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $320.65 for 28011 nationally in the office and $264.54 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $290.37–$403.73.

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

What 28011 covers

This service releases more than one tendon in a toe through a percutaneous approach, using small skin openings rather than an open exposure. It may be performed by a podiatric or orthopedic surgeon to address a toe contracture, such as a flexible deformity in which tendon tightness limits toe position. The operative note should identify the treated toe and the tendons released; the code is distinguished from the single-tendon service by the number of tendons treated.

Report the multiple-tendon service when the documented procedure releases multiple tendons, not merely because more than one toe is involved. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, which includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. 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 multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery, and co-surgeon and team-surgery billing 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 28011 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

28011 rates by state

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

How the 28011 rate is calculated

Each of 28011’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 28011

28011 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

28011 compared with similar codes

How to choose

28010Toe tendon releaseSingle tendon, percutaneous

Choose 28010 for a percutaneous release of one toe tendon; choose 28011 when multiple tendons are released.

28270Foot contracture releaseMidfoot joint, each joint

28270 describes release at a metatarsophalangeal joint. This code describes percutaneous release of multiple toe tendons.

28285Hammertoe repairLesser-toe deformity correction

28285 is a hammertoe correction procedure, rather than a percutaneous multiple-tendon release.

Codes related to 28011

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