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CPT code 28072: Joint synovectomy, foot metatarsophalangeal joint2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Reports surgical removal of abnormal synovial tissue from a foot metatarsophalangeal joint, such as for persistent inflammatory synovitis causing pain or swelling.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality416 Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $571.52 for 28072 in the office and $347.64 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$571.52Office (non-facility)
$347.64Hospital or facility
+13.8%vs the national office rate ($502.35)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 28072 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 28072 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 28072 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 28072 covers

This service removes abnormal synovial tissue from a metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint in the foot. An orthopedic foot-and-ankle surgeon or podiatric surgeon typically performs it in an operating room, opening the joint to address persistent, symptomatic synovial inflammation or proliferation. The operative focus is the joint lining, not a toe tendon sheath or a diagnostic tissue sample alone.

Report the code when the surgeon performs therapeutic synovial tissue removal at an MTP joint. The operative report should identify the joint, describe the synovial findings and removal, and support why treatment went beyond biopsy. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For procedures in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Assistant-at-surgery payment is barred, and co-surgeon and team-surgery reporting 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 Washington, DC area compares for 28072

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 28072 runs from $446.86 in Arkansas to $656.73 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $571.52. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

28072 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$571.52
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$562.93−$8.59
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$543.98−$27.54
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$528.87−$42.65
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$576.46+$4.94
  6. Alaska · Alaska$592.40+$20.88
  7. Alabama · Alabama$453.08−$118.44

Other areas in District of Columbia first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

28072 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$446.86$283.61
ArizonaArizona$489.46$305.30
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$529.80$321.50
Chico, CACalifornia$528.15$319.85
El Centro, CACalifornia$528.24$319.95
Fresno, CACalifornia$528.15$319.85
Hanford, CACalifornia$528.15$319.85
Madera, CACalifornia$528.15$319.85

28072 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.

$446.86

$592.44

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

View every state and territory as a table
28072 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$592.401
AL$453.081
AR$446.861
AZ$489.461
CA$528.15–$656.7329
CO$521.311
CT$534.721
DC$571.521
DE$497.301
FL$497.06–$543.983
GA$470.20–$511.792
GU$539.871
HI$539.871
IA$463.191
ID$466.241
IL$483.95–$528.874
IN$468.791
KS$461.531
KY$464.121
LA$463.59–$485.362
MA$518.59–$570.712
MD$506.34–$571.523
ME$468.98–$492.602
MI$475.98–$503.392
MN$499.001
MO$456.29–$486.533
MS$451.641
MT$502.311
NC$473.591
ND$491.441
NE$465.491
NH$513.601
NJ$540.67–$566.132
NM$478.621
NV$499.611
NY$480.38–$590.365
OH$473.761
OK$462.911
OR$495.57–$536.772
PA$474.25–$522.202
PR$505.711
RI$514.191
SC$474.491
SD$490.151
TN$463.781
TX$471.32–$519.728
UT$480.661
VA$491.33–$571.522
VI$505.711
VT$489.971
WA$517.46–$581.662
WI$475.761
WV$466.991
WY$497.571

See 28072 in every payment locality

How the 28072 rate is calculated

Each of 28072’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 · 28072

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work4.60

4.60 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense9.89

9.89 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.55

0.55 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

15.0400

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$502.35

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

The exact Washington, DC area inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

3,111

Code
28072
Physician work
4.60
Practice expense
9.89
Malpractice
0.55

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 28072 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work4.60× 1.0544.8484
Practice expense9.89× 1.17811.6504
Malpractice0.55× 1.1130.6122
Total RVUs17.1110
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$571.52

Office: (4.6 × 1.054 + 9.89 × 1.178 + 0.55 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $571.52

Facility: (4.6 × 1.054 + 4.2 × 1.178 + 0.55 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $347.64

Open 28072 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 28072

28072 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 28072

Joint synovectomy, foot metatarsophalangeal 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 · 28072

Joint synovectomy, foot metatarsophalangeal 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

28072 without 51 · national office

$502.35

Joint synovectomy, foot metatarsophalangeal joint

28072-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$251.18

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 28072

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

Codes related to 28072
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Same family
28070Foot synovectomy, tarsometatarsal jointSynovectomy at a tarsal joint rather than a foot metatarsophalangeal joint.$588.25
Used instead
28052Joint biopsy, metatarsophalangeal jointJoint biopsy when the service is diagnostic sampling rather than therapeutic synovial tissue removal.$431.78
28086Tendon sheath excision, single sheathAddresses excision of foot tendon sheath tissue, not synovium inside an MTP joint.$615.33

How 28072 has changed in Washington, DC area

28072 · Office / nonfacility

$571.52

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $26.16 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $545.36 to $571.52 (4.8%).

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

    $545.36changed to$571.52

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 4.72 changed to 4.60
    • Practice expense RVU 9.42 changed to 9.89
    • Work GPCI 1.057 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.192 changed to 1.178
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.168 changed to 1.113

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $563.62changed to$545.36

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 9.49 changed to 9.42
    • Malpractice RVU 0.54 changed to 0.55

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $554.42changed to$563.62

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $575.26changed to$554.42

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 9.33 changed to 9.49
    • Work GPCI 1.056 changed to 1.057
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.214 changed to 1.192
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.231 changed to 1.168

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $592.87changed to$575.26

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 9.26 changed to 9.33
    • Malpractice RVU 0.55 changed to 0.54
    • Work GPCI 1.054 changed to 1.056
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.236 changed to 1.214
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.294 changed to 1.231

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $595.51changed to$592.87

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 9.27 changed to 9.26
    • Malpractice RVU 0.49 changed to 0.55

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $591.29changed to$595.51

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 8.83 changed to 9.27
    • Malpractice RVU 0.51 changed to 0.49
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.221 changed to 1.236
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.277 changed to 1.294

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $587.40changed to$591.29

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 8.92 changed to 8.83
    • Malpractice RVU 0.49 changed to 0.51
    • Work GPCI 1.045 changed to 1.049
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.221
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.261 changed to 1.277

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $606.35changed to$587.40

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 9.33 changed to 8.92
    • Malpractice RVU 0.53 changed to 0.49

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $610.90changed to$606.35

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 9.42 changed to 9.33
    • Malpractice RVU 0.57 changed to 0.53
    • Work GPCI 1.048 changed to 1.045
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.271 changed to 1.261

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $605.84changed to$610.90

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 9.32 changed to 9.42
    • Work GPCI 1.051 changed to 1.048
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.280 changed to 1.271

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $620.69changed to$605.84

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 9.57 changed to 9.32
    • Malpractice RVU 0.61 changed to 0.57

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $617.60changed to$620.69

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $601.73changed to$617.60

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 9.24 changed to 9.57
    • Work GPCI 1.050 changed to 1.051
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.202 changed to 1.205
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.280

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $608.40changed to$601.73

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 10.19 changed to 9.24
    • Malpractice RVU 0.64 changed to 0.61
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.050
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.198 changed to 1.202
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.130 changed to 1.205

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $608.40

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$571.52$347.64RVU26D
2026-07-01$571.52$347.64RVU26C
2026-04-01$571.52$347.64RVU26B
2026-01-01$571.52$347.64RVU26A
2025-10-01$545.36$362.99RVU25D
2025-07-01$545.36$362.99RVU25C
2025-04-01$545.36$362.99RVU25B
2025-01-01$545.36$362.99RVU25A
2024-10-01$563.62$369.99RVU24D
2024-07-01$563.62$369.99RVU24C
2024-04-01$563.62$369.99RVU24B
2024-03-09$563.62$369.99RVU24AR
2024-01-01$554.42$363.95RVU24A
2023-10-01$575.26$374.09RVU23D
2023-07-01$575.26$374.09RVU23C
2023-04-01$575.26$374.09RVU23B
2023-01-01$575.26$374.09RVU23A
2022-10-01$592.87$380.29RVU22D
2022-07-01$592.87$380.29RVU22C
2022-04-01$592.87$380.29RVU22B
2022-01-01$592.87$380.29RVU22A
2021-10-01$595.51$375.13RVU21D
2021-07-01$595.51$375.13RVU21C
2021-04-01$595.51$375.13RVU21B
2021-01-01$595.51$375.13RVU21A
2020-10-01$591.29$378.46RVU20D
2020-07-01$591.29$378.46RVU20C
2020-04-01$591.29$378.46RVU20B
2020-01-01$591.29$378.46RVU20A
2019-10-01$587.40$375.91RVU19D
2019-07-01$587.40$375.91RVU19C
2019-04-01$587.40$375.91RVU19B
2019-01-01$587.40$375.91RVU19A
2018-10-01$606.35$385.55RVU18D
2018-07-01$606.35$385.55RVU18C
2018-04-01$606.35$385.55RVU18B
2018-01-01$606.35$385.55RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$610.90$389.92RVU17D
2017-07-01$610.90$389.92RVU17C
2017-04-01$610.90$389.92RVU17B
2017-01-01$610.90$389.92RVU17A
2016-10-01$605.84$387.53RVU16D
2016-07-01$605.84$387.53RVU16C
2016-04-01$605.84$387.53RVU16B
2016-01-01$605.84$387.53RVU16A
2015-10-01$620.69$395.10RVU15D
2015-07-01$620.69$395.10RVU15C
2015-04-01$617.60$393.13RVU15B
2015-01-01$617.60$393.13RVU15A
2014-10-01$601.73$386.44RVU14D
2014-07-01$601.73$386.44RVU14C
2014-04-01$601.73$386.44RVU14B
2014-01-01$601.73$386.44RVU14A
2013-10-01$608.40$381.37RVU13D
2013-07-01$608.40$381.37RVU13C
2013-04-01$608.40$381.37RVU13B
2013-01-01$608.40$381.37RVU13AR

Price 28072 for an earlier date of service

Where the Washington, DC area rate applies

Washington, DC area is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1 cities and communities in District of Columbia. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Washington

Browse all communities in District of Columbia

28072 billing questions

How does this differ from 28070?

Code 28072 is for synovectomy at a foot metatarsophalangeal joint. Code 28070 is for synovectomy at a tarsal joint.

When would 28052 be more appropriate?

Use the applicable joint-biopsy code when the surgeon opens the joint to obtain a diagnostic sample rather than therapeutically removing abnormal synovial tissue.

Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral MTP synovectomy?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code, so do not use modifier 50 for a bilateral adjustment.

What postoperative care is included in the global period?

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

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be paid for this service?

CMS bars assistant-at-surgery payment for this code and does not permit co-surgeon or team-surgery reporting.

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 28072PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,111 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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