CPT code 28011: Toe tendon release, multiple tendons2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Maryland
Percutaneous release of multiple tendons in a toe is reported when a surgeon treats a toe contracture by cutting more than one tendon.
Medicare pays $322.93–$359.56 for 28011 in the office in Maryland, from Rest of Maryland to Washington, DC area. 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 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 in Maryland
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
3 payment localities
$322.93 to $359.56
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore area, MD | $338.36 | $278.15 |
| Rest of Maryland | $322.93 | $266.14 |
| Washington, DC area | $359.56 | $293.46 |
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.
How the rate is built · 28011
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work4.17
4.17 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense5.02
5.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.41
0.41 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
9.6000
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$320.65
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 28011
28011 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 28011
Toe tendon release, multiple tendons
| 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 · 28011
Toe tendon release, multiple tendons
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
28011 without 51 · national office
$320.65
Toe tendon release, multiple tendons
28011-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$160.33
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%).
28011 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
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.
28011 billing questions
How does this differ from 28010?
28011 is for percutaneous release of multiple tendons in a toe. 28010 is the corresponding single-tendon service.
Does treating more than one toe establish multiple tendons?
No. The distinction is the number of tendons released, not simply the number of toes treated. Document the toe and tendons addressed.
Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral treatment?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code. Do not use modifier 50 to report it bilaterally.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during the 90 days after surgery.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery 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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