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CPT code 28070: Foot synovectomy, tarsometatarsal joint2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Santa Clara County, CA

Removal of diseased synovial lining from a tarsometatarsal joint, typically for persistent proliferative synovitis requiring surgical treatment.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality288 Medicare services in 2024

In Santa Clara County, CA, Medicare pays $670.95 for 28070 in the office and $396.41 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$670.95Office (non-facility)
$396.41Hospital or facility
+29.4%vs the national office rate ($518.38)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 28070 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 28070 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Santa Clara County, CA
  2. What 28070 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 28070 covers

The surgeon removes abnormal synovial tissue from a tarsometatarsal joint, where the metatarsal bases meet the midfoot bones. This may be performed for persistent synovitis with inflamed or proliferative joint lining, including inflammatory disease affecting the midfoot. A foot and ankle or orthopedic surgeon typically performs the operation in an operating room.

Report 28070 when the operative work removes synovium from a tarsometatarsal joint; a limited diagnostic tissue sample is not the same service. The operative note should identify the joint and document the synovial tissue removed. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When other procedures subject to multiple-procedure reduction are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay for an assistant at surgery, co-surgeons, or team surgery for this code.

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 Santa Clara County, CA compares for 28070

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 28070 runs from $462.81 in Arkansas to $673.59 in San Benito County, CA. Santa Clara County, CA pays $670.95. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

28070 in Santa Clara County, CA vs other payment areas
  1. Santa Clara County, CA · this page$670.95
  2. Bakersfield, CA · California$545.73−$125.22
  3. Chico, CA · California$544.00−$126.95
  4. El Centro, CA · California$544.10−$126.85
  5. Fresno, CA · California$544.00−$126.95
  6. Hanford, CA · California$544.00−$126.95
  7. Los Angeles, CA · California$579.13−$91.82

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

Every other payment area

28070 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Madera, CACalifornia$544.00$335.34
Merced, CACalifornia$544.00$335.34
Modesto, CACalifornia$544.00$335.34
Napa, CACalifornia$624.28$373.36
Oxnard, CACalifornia$575.80$350.77
Redding, CACalifornia$544.00$335.34
Rest of CaliforniaCalifornia$544.00$335.34
Riverside, CACalifornia$550.21$341.55

28070 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.

$462.81

$616.54

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

View every state and territory as a table
28070 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$616.541
AL$469.041
AR$462.811
AZ$505.451
CA$544.00–$673.5929
CO$537.301
CT$551.101
DC$588.251
DE$513.371
FL$513.50–$560.973
GA$486.54–$527.982
GU$555.391
HI$555.391
IA$478.971
ID$482.061
IL$500.51–$545.874
IN$484.601
KS$477.391
KY$480.281
LA$479.79–$501.582
MA$534.67–$587.052
MD$522.47–$588.253
ME$484.89–$508.402
MI$492.24–$519.942
MN$514.511
MO$472.53–$502.643
MS$467.731
MT$518.341
NC$489.491
ND$507.071
NE$481.231
NH$529.481
NJ$557.29–$583.022
NM$494.931
NV$515.531
NY$496.29–$607.745
OH$489.941
OK$478.971
OR$511.41–$552.722
PA$490.38–$538.602
PR$521.711
RI$530.411
SC$490.551
SD$505.741
TN$479.661
TX$487.45–$535.628
UT$496.721
VA$507.20–$588.252
VI$521.711
VT$505.691
WA$533.47–$598.042
WI$491.401
WV$483.531
WY$513.431

See 28070 in every payment locality

How the 28070 rate is calculated

Each of 28070’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 · 28070

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work5.11

5.11 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense9.84

9.84 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.57

0.57 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

15.5200

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$518.38

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

The exact Santa Clara County, CA inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

3,110

Code
28070
Physician work
5.11
Practice expense
9.84
Malpractice
0.57

GPCI2026.csv

28

Locality
Santa Clara County, CA
Physician work
1.110
Practice expense
1.442
Malpractice
0.397
Office calculation for 28070 in Santa Clara County, CA
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work5.11× 1.1105.6721
Practice expense9.84× 1.44214.1893
Malpractice0.57× 0.3970.2263
Total RVUs20.0877
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Santa Clara County, CA$670.95

Office: (5.11 × 1.11 + 9.84 × 1.442 + 0.57 × 0.397) × $33.4009 = $670.95

Facility: (5.11 × 1.11 + 4.14 × 1.442 + 0.57 × 0.397) × $33.4009 = $396.41

Open 28070 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 28070

28070 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 28070

Foot synovectomy, tarsometatarsal 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 · 28070

Foot synovectomy, tarsometatarsal 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

28070 without 51 · national office

$518.38

Foot synovectomy, tarsometatarsal joint

28070-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$259.19

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 28070

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

Codes related to 28070
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Santa Clara County, CA
Same family
28072Joint synovectomy, foot metatarsophalangeal jointSynovectomy of a metatarsophalangeal joint rather than a tarsometatarsal joint.$654.18
Used instead
28050Joint biopsy, foot joint liningA joint-lining biopsy is diagnostic sampling, not removal of synovium by synovectomy.$526.74
28052Joint biopsy, metatarsophalangeal jointUse for the applicable joint-lining biopsy service when tissue sampling, rather than synovectomy, is performed.$493.42

How 28070 has changed in Santa Clara County, CA

28070 · Office / nonfacility

$670.95

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $36.59 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $634.36 to $670.95 (5.8%).

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

    $634.36changed to$670.95

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 5.24 changed to 5.11
    • Practice expense RVU 9.48 changed to 9.84
    • Malpractice RVU 0.58 changed to 0.57
    • Work GPCI 1.100 changed to 1.110
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.435 changed to 1.442
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.420 changed to 0.397

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $650.82changed to$634.36

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 9.45 changed to 9.48
    • Malpractice RVU 0.54 changed to 0.58

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $640.20changed to$650.82

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $646.79changed to$640.20

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 9.30 changed to 9.45
    • Malpractice RVU 0.55 changed to 0.54
    • Work GPCI 1.098 changed to 1.100
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.409 changed to 1.435
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.417 changed to 0.420

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $657.71changed to$646.79

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 9.41 changed to 9.30
    • Malpractice RVU 0.60 changed to 0.55
    • Work GPCI 1.096 changed to 1.098
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.383 changed to 1.409
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.414 changed to 0.417

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $680.68changed to$657.71

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 9.77 changed to 9.41
    • Malpractice RVU 0.61 changed to 0.60

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $680.03changed to$680.68

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 9.42 changed to 9.77
    • Malpractice RVU 0.60 changed to 0.61
    • Work GPCI 1.089 changed to 1.096
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.369 changed to 1.383
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.401 changed to 0.414

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $682.82changed to$680.03

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 9.63 changed to 9.42
    • Work GPCI 1.083 changed to 1.089
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.354 changed to 1.369
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.388 changed to 0.401

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $688.48changed to$682.82

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 9.75 changed to 9.63
    • Malpractice RVU 0.64 changed to 0.60

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $681.06changed to$688.48

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 9.65 changed to 9.75
    • Malpractice RVU 0.62 changed to 0.64
    • Work GPCI 1.086 changed to 1.083
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.351 changed to 1.354
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.402 changed to 0.388

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $673.64changed to$681.06

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 9.55 changed to 9.65
    • Malpractice RVU 0.60 changed to 0.62
    • Work GPCI 1.088 changed to 1.086
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.347 changed to 1.351
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.416 changed to 0.402

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $669.93changed to$673.64

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 9.42 changed to 9.55
    • Malpractice RVU 0.61 changed to 0.60

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $666.60changed to$669.93

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $666.61changed to$666.60

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 9.45 changed to 9.42
    • Malpractice RVU 0.54 changed to 0.61
    • Work GPCI 1.083 changed to 1.088
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.342 changed to 1.347
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.466 changed to 0.416

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $676.74changed to$666.61

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 10.44 changed to 9.45
    • Malpractice RVU 0.56 changed to 0.54
    • Work GPCI 1.077 changed to 1.083
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.337 changed to 1.342
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.516 changed to 0.466

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. October 1, 2013

    RVU13D

    No ratechanged to$676.74

  17. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$670.95$396.41RVU26D
2026-07-01$670.95$396.41RVU26C
2026-04-01$670.95$396.41RVU26B
2026-01-01$670.95$396.41RVU26A
2025-10-01$634.36$414.81RVU25D
2025-07-01$634.36$414.81RVU25C
2025-04-01$634.36$414.81RVU25B
2025-01-01$634.36$414.81RVU25A
2024-10-01$650.82$419.15RVU24D
2024-07-01$650.82$419.15RVU24C
2024-04-01$650.82$419.15RVU24B
2024-03-09$650.82$419.15RVU24AR
2024-01-01$640.20$412.31RVU24A
2023-10-01$646.79$415.22RVU23D
2023-07-01$646.79$415.22RVU23C
2023-04-01$646.79$415.22RVU23B
2023-01-01$646.79$415.22RVU23A
2022-10-01$657.71$417.45RVU22D
2022-07-01$657.71$417.45RVU22C
2022-04-01$657.71$417.45RVU22B
2022-01-01$657.71$417.45RVU22A
2021-10-01$680.68$424.43RVU21D
2021-07-01$680.68$424.43RVU21C
2021-04-01$680.68$424.43RVU21B
2021-01-01$680.68$424.43RVU21A
2020-10-01$680.03$429.54RVU20D
2020-07-01$680.03$429.54RVU20C
2020-04-01$680.03$429.54RVU20B
2020-01-01$680.03$429.54RVU20A
2019-10-01$682.82$430.06RVU19D
2019-07-01$682.82$430.06RVU19C
2019-04-01$682.82$430.06RVU19B
2019-01-01$682.82$430.06RVU19A
2018-10-01$688.48$433.07RVU18D
2018-07-01$688.48$433.07RVU18C
2018-04-01$688.48$433.07RVU18B
2018-01-01$688.48$433.07RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$681.06$429.42RVU17D
2017-07-01$681.06$429.42RVU17C
2017-04-01$681.06$429.42RVU17B
2017-01-01$681.06$429.42RVU17A
2016-10-01$673.64$425.27RVU16D
2016-07-01$673.64$425.27RVU16C
2016-04-01$673.64$425.27RVU16B
2016-01-01$673.64$425.27RVU16A
2015-10-01$669.93$422.59RVU15D
2015-07-01$669.93$422.59RVU15C
2015-04-01$666.60$420.49RVU15B
2015-01-01$666.60$420.49RVU15A
2014-10-01$666.61$422.39RVU14D
2014-07-01$666.61$422.39RVU14C
2014-04-01$666.61$422.39RVU14B
2014-01-01$666.61$422.39RVU14A
2013-10-01$676.74$419.28RVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price 28070 for an earlier date of service

Where the Santa Clara County, CA rate applies

Santa Clara County, CA is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 24 cities and communities in California. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • San Jose
  • Santa Clara
  • Sunnyvale
  • Alum Rock
  • Burbank
  • Cambrian Park
  • Campbell
  • Cupertino

Browse all communities in California

28070 billing questions

How is 28070 distinguished from 28072?

28070 is for synovectomy of a tarsometatarsal joint. 28072 applies to a metatarsophalangeal joint, so use the joint documented in the operative report.

Can 28070 be reported for a synovial biopsy?

Use 28070 when the surgeon removes synovial tissue as a synovectomy. A procedure limited to obtaining tissue for diagnosis is a biopsy service instead.

Should modifier 50 be appended for bilateral procedures?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code's descriptor or anatomy.

What postoperative care is included?

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

How are other procedures in the same session paid?

Under the standard multiple-procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the other procedures are paid at 50%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery, co-surgeons, or team surgery for 28070.

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 28070PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,110 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Santa Clara County, CAGPCI2026.csv, line 28 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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