CPT code 28086: Tendon sheath excision, single sheath2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Chicago, IL

Surgical excision of diseased foot tendon sheath tissue, commonly for a sheath-associated ganglion, when the surgeon removes one tendon sheath.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality671 Medicare services in 2024

In Chicago, IL, Medicare pays $571.46 for 28086 in the office and $365.68 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$571.46Office (non-facility)
$365.68Hospital or facility
+5.7%vs the national office rate ($540.43)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 28086 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 28086 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Chicago, IL
  2. What 28086 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 28086 covers

This procedure removes abnormal tissue from a tendon sheath in the foot, often when a ganglion arises from or involves the sheath. An orthopedic surgeon or podiatric surgeon typically performs the excision in an operating room or ambulatory surgery setting. The operative report should identify the tendon and foot location, describe the sheath tissue removed, and clarify whether the target was a sheath-associated lesion rather than a joint, nerve, or separate soft-tissue mass.

Report 28086 for the primary tendon sheath excision; 28088 is the add-on code for an additional sheath. The service has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; co-surgeons require 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 Chicago, IL compares for 28086

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 28086 runs from $479.36 in Arkansas to $706.40 in San Benito County, CA. Chicago, IL pays $571.46. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

28086 in Chicago, IL vs other payment areas
  1. Chicago, IL · this page$571.46
  2. East St. Louis, IL · Illinois$533.77−$37.69
  3. Rest of Illinois · Illinois$521.47−$49.99
  4. Suburban Chicago, IL · Illinois$567.99−$3.47
  5. Los Angeles, CA · California$605.29+$33.83
  6. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$615.33+$43.87
  7. Miami, FL · Florida$588.32+$16.86

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

Every other payment area

28086 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Manhattan, NYNew York$621.47$383.55
AlaskaAlaska$634.14$416.08
AlabamaAlabama$486.21$307.05
ArkansasArkansas$479.36$303.49
ArizonaArizona$526.19$327.79
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$569.39$344.99
Chico, CACalifornia$567.48$343.08
El Centro, CACalifornia$567.59$343.19

28086 rates by state

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

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.

$479.36

$636.94

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

View every state and territory as a table
28086 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$634.141
AL$486.211
AR$479.361
AZ$526.191
CA$567.48–$706.4029
CO$560.531
CT$575.791
DC$615.331
DE$534.731
FL$535.58–$588.323
GA$505.89–$551.012
GU$580.391
HI$580.391
IA$496.871
ID$500.311
IL$521.47–$571.464
IN$503.101
KS$495.251
KY$498.801
LA$498.30–$522.232
MA$557.58–$614.142
MD$544.55–$615.333
ME$503.55–$529.192
MI$512.05–$542.782
MN$535.541
MO$490.40–$523.273
MS$484.941
MT$540.381
NC$508.581
ND$527.531
NE$499.331
NH$552.411
NJ$581.92–$609.352
NM$515.041
NV$537.161
NY$516.06–$637.035
OH$509.421
OK$497.241
OR$532.54–$577.222
PA$509.84–$562.202
PR$544.041
RI$552.951
SC$509.931
SD$526.011
TN$497.761
TX$506.63–$559.068
UT$516.711
VA$527.95–$615.332
VI$544.041
VT$526.121
WA$556.32–$625.822
WI$510.351
WV$502.831
WY$534.781

See 28086 in every payment locality

How the 28086 rate is calculated

Each of 28086’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 · 28086

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work4.80

4.80 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense10.73

10.73 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.65

0.65 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

16.1800

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$540.43

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

The exact Chicago, IL inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

3,113

Code
28086
Physician work
4.80
Practice expense
10.73
Malpractice
0.65

GPCI2026.csv

48

Locality
Chicago, IL
Physician work
1.007
Practice expense
1.005
Malpractice
2.295
Office calculation for 28086 in Chicago, IL
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work4.80× 1.0074.8336
Practice expense10.73× 1.00510.7836
Malpractice0.65× 2.2951.4917
Total RVUs17.1090
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Chicago, IL$571.46

Office: (4.8 × 1.007 + 10.73 × 1.005 + 0.65 × 2.295) × $33.4009 = $571.46

Facility: (4.8 × 1.007 + 4.6 × 1.005 + 0.65 × 2.295) × $33.4009 = $365.68

Open 28086 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 28086

28086 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 28086

Tendon sheath excision, single sheath

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)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)2Paid.
Co-surgeons (62)1Permitted with supporting documentation.
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 · 28086

Tendon sheath excision, single sheath

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 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

28086 without 50 · national office

$540.43

Tendon sheath excision, single sheath

28086-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$810.64

Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).

When to use modifier 50

How 28086 has changed in Chicago, IL

28086 · Office / nonfacility

$571.46

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $39.83 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $531.63 to $571.46 (7.5%).

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

    $531.63changed to$571.46

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 4.92 changed to 4.80
    • Practice expense RVU 9.98 changed to 10.73
    • Malpractice RVU 0.63 changed to 0.65
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.023 changed to 1.005
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.018 changed to 2.295

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $554.91changed to$531.63

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 10.19 changed to 9.98
    • Malpractice RVU 0.64 changed to 0.63

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $545.86changed to$554.91

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $571.27changed to$545.86

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 10.29 changed to 10.19
    • Malpractice RVU 0.65 changed to 0.64
    • Work GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.007
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.033 changed to 1.023
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.945 changed to 2.018
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $588.73changed to$571.27

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 10.33 changed to 10.29
    • Malpractice RVU 0.67 changed to 0.65
    • Work GPCI 1.011 changed to 1.009
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.044 changed to 1.033
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.871 changed to 1.945

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $598.57changed to$588.73

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 10.52 changed to 10.33
    • Malpractice RVU 0.64 changed to 0.67

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $595.28changed to$598.57

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 9.91 changed to 10.52
    • Malpractice RVU 0.65 changed to 0.64
    • Work GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.011
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.039 changed to 1.044
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.898 changed to 1.871

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $603.39changed to$595.28

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 10.13 changed to 9.91
    • Malpractice RVU 0.68 changed to 0.65
    • Work GPCI 1.008 changed to 1.009
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.034 changed to 1.039
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.925 changed to 1.898

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $604.59changed to$603.39

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 10.18 changed to 10.13

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $604.20changed to$604.59

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 10.15 changed to 10.18
    • Work GPCI 1.012 changed to 1.008
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.036 changed to 1.034
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.972 changed to 1.925

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $609.02changed to$604.20

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 10.20 changed to 10.15
    • Malpractice RVU 0.71 changed to 0.68
    • Work GPCI 1.016 changed to 1.012
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.037 changed to 1.036
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.019 changed to 1.972

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $616.02changed to$609.02

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 10.29 changed to 10.20
    • Malpractice RVU 0.73 changed to 0.71

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $612.95changed to$616.02

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $605.66changed to$612.95

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 10.02 changed to 10.29
    • Malpractice RVU 0.69 changed to 0.73
    • Work GPCI 1.023 changed to 1.016
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.044 changed to 1.037
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.048 changed to 2.019

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $619.85changed to$605.66

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 11.09 changed to 10.02
    • Malpractice RVU 0.72 changed to 0.69
    • Work GPCI 1.030 changed to 1.023
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.051 changed to 1.044
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.077 changed to 2.048

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. October 1, 2013

    RVU13D

    No ratechanged to$619.85

  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$571.46$365.68RVU26D
2026-07-01$571.46$365.68RVU26C
2026-04-01$571.46$365.68RVU26B
2026-01-01$571.46$365.68RVU26A
2025-10-01$531.63$369.15RVU25D
2025-07-01$531.63$369.15RVU25C
2025-04-01$531.63$369.15RVU25B
2025-01-01$531.63$369.15RVU25A
2024-10-01$554.91$380.22RVU24D
2024-07-01$554.91$380.22RVU24C
2024-04-01$554.91$380.22RVU24B
2024-03-09$554.91$380.22RVU24AR
2024-01-01$545.86$374.02RVU24A
2023-10-01$571.27$386.79RVU23D
2023-07-01$571.27$386.79RVU23C
2023-04-01$571.27$386.79RVU23B
2023-01-01$571.27$386.79RVU23A
2022-10-01$588.73$393.27RVU22D
2022-07-01$588.73$393.27RVU22C
2022-04-01$588.73$393.27RVU22B
2022-01-01$588.73$393.27RVU22A
2021-10-01$598.57$393.12RVU21D
2021-07-01$598.57$393.12RVU21C
2021-04-01$598.57$393.12RVU21B
2021-01-01$598.57$393.12RVU21A
2020-10-01$595.28$397.67RVU20D
2020-07-01$595.28$397.67RVU20C
2020-04-01$595.28$397.67RVU20B
2020-01-01$595.28$397.67RVU20A
2019-10-01$603.39$402.91RVU19D
2019-07-01$603.39$402.91RVU19C
2019-04-01$603.39$402.91RVU19B
2019-01-01$603.39$402.91RVU19A
2018-10-01$604.59$402.84RVU18D
2018-07-01$604.59$402.84RVU18C
2018-04-01$604.59$402.84RVU18B
2018-01-01$604.59$402.84RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$604.20$403.80RVU17D
2017-07-01$604.20$403.80RVU17C
2017-04-01$604.20$403.80RVU17B
2017-01-01$604.20$403.80RVU17A
2016-10-01$609.02$407.78RVU16D
2016-07-01$609.02$407.78RVU16C
2016-04-01$609.02$407.78RVU16B
2016-01-01$609.02$407.78RVU16A
2015-10-01$616.02$411.82RVU15D
2015-07-01$616.02$411.82RVU15C
2015-04-01$612.95$409.77RVU15B
2015-01-01$612.95$409.77RVU15A
2014-10-01$605.66$407.45RVU14D
2014-07-01$605.66$407.45RVU14C
2014-04-01$605.66$407.45RVU14B
2014-01-01$605.66$407.45RVU14A
2013-10-01$619.85$407.81RVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price 28086 for an earlier date of service

Where the Chicago, IL rate applies

Chicago, IL is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 137 cities and communities in Illinois. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

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28086 billing questions

When is 28086 used instead of 28088?

Use 28086 for the primary tendon sheath excision. Use 28088 for each additional sheath excised in the same operative session.

Is a tendon sheath ganglion included in this procedure?

Yes, a ganglion arising from or involving a foot tendon sheath is a typical reason for excision. The operative note should establish the sheath relationship and tissue removed.

How does 28086 differ from tendon incision codes 28010 and 28011?

28086 reports excision of tendon sheath tissue. Codes 28010 and 28011 describe tendon incision or release, not removal of the sheath.

What documentation supports reporting 28086?

Document the foot and tendon location, the sheath or sheath-associated lesion excised, and the extent of removal. If another sheath is excised, identify it to support the additional-sheath code.

What global and multiple-procedure payment rules apply?

The code has a 90-day global period. When procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%.

Can modifier 50 or an assistant-at-surgery service be reported?

Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%, and assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation.

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 28086PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,113 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Chicago, ILGPCI2026.csv, line 48 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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