CPT code 28052: Joint biopsy, metatarsophalangeal joint2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in El Centro, CA

In El Centro, CA, Medicare pays $400.75 for 28052 in the office and $248.83 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 28052 nationwide

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

What 28052 covers

A foot and ankle surgeon, orthopedic surgeon, or podiatric surgeon opens a metatarsophalangeal joint and takes a sample of its synovial lining. The tissue may be sent for evaluation when the cause of joint inflammation or another abnormal process remains uncertain. This is an open joint procedure, not simply a needle sample or inspection of the joint. The code is specific to the metatarsophalangeal joint; the operative report should identify the joint and document the tissue sampled.

Report the service for the joint actually biopsied, supported by the operative note and specimen documentation. Medicare 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 other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. For bilateral reporting with modifier 50, CMS pays at 150%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. 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 El Centro, CA compares for 28052

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 28052 runs from $342.00 in Arkansas to $495.05 in San Benito County, CA. El Centro, CA pays $400.75. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

Every other payment area

28052 rates by state

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

See 28052 in every payment locality

How the 28052 rate is calculated

Each of 28052’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 28052

28052 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 50

Codes related to 28052

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

How 28052 has changed in El Centro, CA

Price 28052 for an earlier date of service

Where the El Centro, CA rate applies

El Centro, CA is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 18 cities and communities in California. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

• El Centro
• Bombay Beach
• Brawley
• Calexico
• Calipatria
• Desert Shores
• El Centro Naval Air Facility
• Heber

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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