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CPT code 28024: Toe joint exploration, interphalangeal joint2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in North Carolina

Reports surgical opening of a toe interphalangeal joint to inspect it, drain it, or remove a loose or foreign body.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality381 Medicare services in 2024

In North Carolina, Medicare pays $446.64 for 28024 in the office and $283.03 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$446.64Office (non-facility)
$283.03Hospital or facility
−5.6%vs the national office rate ($473.29)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 28024 nationwide

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

We’ll open 28024 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in North Carolina
  2. What 28024 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 28024 covers

This service involves surgically opening an interphalangeal joint of a toe to inspect the joint, drain it, or remove a loose or foreign body. A foot and ankle surgeon or podiatric surgeon may perform it in an operating room or another surgical setting when the problem is within the toe joint, rather than a neighboring tendon or soft-tissue structure.

Choose the code based on the joint treated and the work documented. The operative note should identify the toe and joint, the reason for opening it, and any drainage or material removed. CMS assigns 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 the others are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this descriptor. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted; 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.

How North Carolina compares for 28024

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 28024 runs from $421.70 in Arkansas to $618.75 in San Benito County, CA. North Carolina pays $446.64. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

28024 in North Carolina vs other payment areas
  1. North Carolina · this page$446.64
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$530.49+$83.85
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$538.21+$91.57
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$511.01+$64.37
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$497.06+$50.42
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$542.47+$95.83
  7. Alaska · Alaska$559.72+$113.08

Other areas in North Carolina first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

28024 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$427.48$274.05
ArkansasArkansas$421.70$271.07
ArizonaArizona$461.34$291.42
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$499.41$307.23
Chico, CACalifornia$497.92$305.74
El Centro, CACalifornia$498.01$305.82
Fresno, CACalifornia$497.92$305.74
Hanford, CACalifornia$497.92$305.74

28024 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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.

$421.70

$559.72

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
28024 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$559.721
AL$427.481
AR$421.701
AZ$461.341
CA$497.92–$618.7529
CO$491.291
CT$503.511
DC$538.211
DE$468.661
FL$467.90–$511.013
GA$442.99–$481.982
GU$508.821
HI$508.821
IA$437.101
ID$439.901
IL$455.57–$497.064
IN$442.281
KS$435.451
KY$437.531
LA$437.00–$457.252
MA$488.74–$537.602
MD$477.14–$538.213
ME$442.33–$464.462
MI$448.46–$473.682
MN$470.751
MO$430.14–$458.463
MS$425.981
MT$473.261
NC$446.641
ND$463.571
NE$439.271
NH$483.941
NJ$509.26–$533.222
NM$450.881
NV$470.871
NY$452.95–$555.265
OH$446.481
OK$436.511
OR$467.19–$505.832
PA$447.00–$491.802
PR$476.451
RI$484.541
SC$447.301
SD$462.421
TN$437.541
TX$444.26–$489.688
UT$453.041
VA$463.22–$538.212
VI$476.451
VT$462.111
WA$487.70–$547.952
WI$448.961
WV$439.781
WY$469.041

See 28024 in every payment locality

How the 28024 rate is calculated

Each of 28024’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 · 28024

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work4.41

4.41 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense9.27

9.27 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.49

0.49 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

14.1700

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$473.29

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

The exact North Carolina inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

3,096

Code
28024
Physician work
4.41
Practice expense
9.27
Malpractice
0.49

GPCI2026.csv

83

Locality
North Carolina
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.933
Malpractice
0.639
Office calculation for 28024 in North Carolina
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work4.41× 1.0004.4100
Practice expense9.27× 0.9338.6489
Malpractice0.49× 0.6390.3131
Total RVUs13.3720
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, North Carolina$446.64

Office: (4.41 × 1 + 9.27 × 0.933 + 0.49 × 0.639) × $33.4009 = $446.64

Facility: (4.41 × 1 + 4.02 × 0.933 + 0.49 × 0.639) × $33.4009 = $283.03

Open 28024 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 28024

28024 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 28024

Toe joint exploration, interphalangeal joint

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period090Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.10/0.69/0.21Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 28024

Toe joint exploration, interphalangeal joint

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.

  • 24Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78Unplanned return to the operating room for a related complication
SurgeryVisit
Sep 23, 2026Jan 10, 2027

Pre-op dayGlobal period

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

28024 without 51 · national office

$473.29

Toe joint exploration, interphalangeal joint

28024-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$236.65

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%).

When to use modifier 51

Codes related to 28024

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 28024
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, North Carolina
Used instead
28020Foot joint arthrotomy, intertarsal or tarsometatarsalArthrotomy code for a different foot joint; select by the joint documented.$530.39
28022Joint exploration, metatarsophalangeal jointAnother foot-joint arthrotomy code; distinguish by the joint treated.$469.42
28054Joint biopsy, toe joint liningToe-joint lining biopsy when tissue sampling, rather than arthrotomy work, is performed.$338.70

How 28024 has changed in North Carolina

28024 · Office / nonfacility

$446.64

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $23.31 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $423.33 to $446.64 (5.5%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

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

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $423.33changed to$446.64

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 4.52 changed to 4.41
    • Practice expense RVU 8.90 changed to 9.27
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.926 changed to 0.933
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.665 changed to 0.639

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $434.98changed to$423.33

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Malpractice RVU 0.46 changed to 0.49

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $427.88changed to$434.98

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $437.53changed to$427.88

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 8.70 changed to 8.90
    • Malpractice RVU 0.44 changed to 0.46
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.927 changed to 0.926
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.742 changed to 0.665

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $442.22changed to$437.53

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 8.52 changed to 8.70
    • Malpractice RVU 0.43 changed to 0.44
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.928 changed to 0.927
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.819 changed to 0.742

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $449.45changed to$442.22

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 8.63 changed to 8.52

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $451.04changed to$449.45

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 8.22 changed to 8.63
    • Malpractice RVU 0.44 changed to 0.43
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.930 changed to 0.928
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.757 changed to 0.819

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $448.63changed to$451.04

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 8.21 changed to 8.22
    • Malpractice RVU 0.41 changed to 0.44
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.931 changed to 0.930
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.695 changed to 0.757

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $452.33changed to$448.63

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 8.32 changed to 8.21
    • Malpractice RVU 0.43 changed to 0.41

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $450.84changed to$452.33

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 8.30 changed to 8.32
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.732 changed to 0.695

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $452.03changed to$450.84

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 8.36 changed to 8.30
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.930 changed to 0.931
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.768 changed to 0.732

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $455.49changed to$452.03

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 8.39 changed to 8.36
    • Malpractice RVU 0.46 changed to 0.43

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $453.23changed to$455.49

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $446.63changed to$453.23

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 8.24 changed to 8.39
    • Malpractice RVU 0.40 changed to 0.46
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.929 changed to 0.930
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.732 changed to 0.768

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $450.09changed to$446.63

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 9.08 changed to 8.24
    • Malpractice RVU 0.42 changed to 0.40
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.927 changed to 0.929
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.695 changed to 0.732

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $450.09

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$446.64$283.03RVU26D
2026-07-01$446.64$283.03RVU26C
2026-04-01$446.64$283.03RVU26B
2026-01-01$446.64$283.03RVU26A
2025-10-01$423.33$291.53RVU25D
2025-07-01$423.33$291.53RVU25C
2025-04-01$423.33$291.53RVU25B
2025-01-01$423.33$291.53RVU25A
2024-10-01$434.98$295.34RVU24D
2024-07-01$434.98$295.34RVU24C
2024-04-01$434.98$295.34RVU24B
2024-03-09$434.98$295.34RVU24AR
2024-01-01$427.88$290.52RVU24A
2023-10-01$437.53$295.54RVU23D
2023-07-01$437.53$295.54RVU23C
2023-04-01$437.53$295.54RVU23B
2023-01-01$437.53$295.54RVU23A
2022-10-01$442.22$296.42RVU22D
2022-07-01$442.22$296.42RVU22C
2022-04-01$442.22$296.42RVU22B
2022-01-01$442.22$296.42RVU22A
2021-10-01$449.45$296.29RVU21D
2021-07-01$449.45$296.29RVU21C
2021-04-01$449.45$296.29RVU21B
2021-01-01$449.45$296.29RVU21A
2020-10-01$451.04$301.01RVU20D
2020-07-01$451.04$301.01RVU20C
2020-04-01$451.04$301.01RVU20B
2020-01-01$451.04$301.01RVU20A
2019-10-01$448.63$298.65RVU19D
2019-07-01$448.63$298.65RVU19C
2019-04-01$448.63$298.65RVU19B
2019-01-01$448.63$298.65RVU19A
2018-10-01$452.33$300.50RVU18D
2018-07-01$452.33$300.50RVU18C
2018-04-01$452.33$300.50RVU18B
2018-01-01$452.33$300.50RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$450.84$300.15RVU17D
2017-07-01$450.84$300.15RVU17C
2017-04-01$450.84$300.15RVU17B
2017-01-01$450.84$300.15RVU17A
2016-10-01$452.03$300.86RVU16D
2016-07-01$452.03$300.86RVU16C
2016-04-01$452.03$300.86RVU16B
2016-01-01$452.03$300.86RVU16A
2015-10-01$455.49$302.77RVU15D
2015-07-01$455.49$302.77RVU15C
2015-04-01$453.23$301.26RVU15B
2015-01-01$453.23$301.26RVU15A
2014-10-01$446.63$298.54RVU14D
2014-07-01$446.63$298.54RVU14C
2014-04-01$446.63$298.54RVU14B
2014-01-01$446.63$298.54RVU14A
2013-10-01$450.09$293.97RVU13D
2013-07-01$450.09$293.97RVU13C
2013-04-01$450.09$293.97RVU13B
2013-01-01$450.09$293.97RVU13AR

Price 28024 for an earlier date of service

Where the North Carolina rate applies

North Carolina is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 785 cities and communities in North Carolina. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Aberdeen
  • Advance
  • Ahoskie
  • Alamance
  • Albemarle
  • Alexis
  • Alliance
  • Altamahaw

Browse all communities in North Carolina

28024 billing questions

How is this different from an arthrotomy of another foot joint?

This code is for an interphalangeal joint of a toe. Use the applicable neighboring arthrotomy code when the operative report identifies a different foot joint.

Can this be reported for a toe joint biopsy?

The defining work is opening the toe joint for exploration, drainage, or removal of a loose or foreign body. A procedure focused on sampling the toe joint lining is represented by the toe-joint biopsy code, 28054.

Should modifier 50 be used for both feet?

No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this descriptor; document the treated toe joint or joints.

What postoperative care is included?

The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.

Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be paid?

Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted for this service. CMS does not permit co-surgeons or team surgery.

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
RVUs for 28024PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,096 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for North CarolinaGPCI2026.csv, line 83 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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