FeeBase
Log inGet started
Menu

CPT code 28120: Bone excision, talus or calcaneus2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in North Carolina

Reports surgical removal of part of the talus or calcaneus, such as for diseased bone requiring partial excision or sequestrectomy.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality5.4K Medicare services in 2024

In North Carolina, Medicare pays $647.24 for 28120 in the office and $443.75 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$647.24Office (non-facility)
$443.75Hospital or facility
−5.7%vs the national office rate ($686.72)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 28120 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 28120 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in North Carolina
  2. What 28120 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 28120 covers

An orthopedic or foot and ankle surgeon removes a portion of the talus or calcaneus. The work may involve shaping or scooping out bone, removing a sequestrum, or excising a segment. Typical clinical reasons include osteomyelitis or a localized bone lesion. The service is generally performed in an operating room, with the operative report identifying the affected bone and the extent of removal.

Choose this code when the documented procedure is a partial excision of the talus or calcaneus, rather than a biopsy alone or removal of a different foot bone. The operative note should support the bone treated, the indication, and the partial excision performed. Medicare assigns 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 others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted; 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 North Carolina compares for 28120

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 28120 runs from $612.44 in Arkansas to $882.14 in San Benito County, CA. North Carolina pays $647.24. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

28120 in North Carolina vs other payment areas
  1. North Carolina · this page$647.24
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$761.93+$114.69
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$777.34+$130.10
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$752.83+$105.59
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$732.00+$84.76
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$788.23+$140.99
  7. Alaska · Alaska$818.47+$171.23

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

Every other payment area

28120 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$620.74$429.90
ArkansasArkansas$612.44$425.09
ArizonaArizona$669.19$457.85
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$718.69$479.65
Chico, CACalifornia$715.88$476.83
El Centro, CACalifornia$716.04$476.99
Fresno, CACalifornia$715.88$476.83
Hanford, CACalifornia$715.88$476.83

28120 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.

$612.44

$818.47

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

View every state and territory as a table
28120 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$818.471
AL$620.741
AR$612.441
AZ$669.191
CA$715.88–$882.1429
CO$709.211
CT$730.291
DC$777.341
DE$679.681
FL$684.52–$752.833
GA$647.90–$700.552
GU$730.281
HI$730.281
IA$631.981
ID$636.501
IL$668.54–$732.004
IN$639.841
KS$630.831
KY$637.761
LA$637.48–$666.512
MA$706.10–$773.762
MD$691.47–$777.343
ME$641.28–$671.142
MI$654.62–$694.142
MN$676.231
MO$628.41–$666.793
MS$620.461
MT$686.661
NC$647.241
ND$667.681
NE$634.711
NH$699.791
NJ$737.68–$770.552
NM$658.601
NV$681.781
NY$656.37–$808.165
OH$650.741
OK$635.011
OR$675.53–$728.562
PA$650.81–$714.272
PR$690.821
RI$701.531
SC$650.261
SD$665.431
TN$633.971
TX$646.96–$707.708
UT$658.461
VA$670.21–$777.342
VI$690.821
VT$666.721
WA$704.23–$787.312
WI$647.041
WV$645.981
WY$678.391

See 28120 in every payment locality

How the 28120 rate is calculated

Each of 28120’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 · 28120

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work7.13

7.13 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense12.47

12.47 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.96

0.96 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

20.5600

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$686.72

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

3,132

Code
28120
Physician work
7.13
Practice expense
12.47
Malpractice
0.96

GPCI2026.csv

83

Locality
North Carolina
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.933
Malpractice
0.639
Office calculation for 28120 in North Carolina
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work7.13× 1.0007.1300
Practice expense12.47× 0.93311.6345
Malpractice0.96× 0.6390.6134
Total RVUs19.3780
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, North Carolina$647.24

Office: (7.13 × 1 + 12.47 × 0.933 + 0.96 × 0.639) × $33.4009 = $647.24

Facility: (7.13 × 1 + 5.94 × 0.933 + 0.96 × 0.639) × $33.4009 = $443.75

Open 28120 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 28120

28120 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 28120

Bone excision, talus or calcaneus

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)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
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 · 28120

Bone excision, talus or calcaneus

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

28120 without 50 · national office

$686.72

Bone excision, talus or calcaneus

28120-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$1,030.08

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

Codes related to 28120

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

Codes related to 28120
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, North Carolina
Same family
28122Tarsal bone excision, other tarsal bonesPartial excision of other tarsal or metatarsal bones, rather than the talus or calcaneus.$566.45
Used instead
28100Bone lesion excision, talus or calcaneusExcisional bone biopsy when the service is diagnostic rather than partial therapeutic excision.$606.04
28118Heel bone resection, calcaneal ostectomyCalcaneal ostectomy when the documented procedure fits that service rather than partial excision under 28120.$594.54
28130Talectomy, partial or complete removalComplete talus removal, in contrast to partial excision of the talus.No office rate

How 28120 has changed in North Carolina

28120 · Office / nonfacility

$647.24

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $35.67 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $611.57 to $647.24 (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

    $611.57changed to$647.24

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 7.31 changed to 7.13
    • Practice expense RVU 11.87 changed to 12.47
    • Malpractice RVU 0.91 changed to 0.96
    • 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

    $630.77changed to$611.57

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 11.88 changed to 11.87
    • Malpractice RVU 0.96 changed to 0.91

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $620.48changed to$630.77

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $641.34changed to$620.48

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 11.77 changed to 11.88
    • Malpractice RVU 0.95 changed to 0.96
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.927 changed to 0.926
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.742 changed to 0.665

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $655.20changed to$641.34

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 11.66 changed to 11.77
    • Malpractice RVU 0.98 changed to 0.95
    • 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

    $664.60changed to$655.20

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 11.80 changed to 11.66
    • Malpractice RVU 0.96 changed to 0.98

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $668.03changed to$664.60

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 11.27 changed to 11.80
    • Malpractice RVU 0.95 changed to 0.96
    • 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

    $666.89changed to$668.03

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 11.33 changed to 11.27
    • Malpractice RVU 0.93 changed to 0.95
    • 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

    $665.99changed to$666.89

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 11.34 changed to 11.33
    • Malpractice RVU 0.91 changed to 0.93

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $663.07changed to$665.99

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 11.27 changed to 11.34
    • Malpractice RVU 0.92 changed to 0.91
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.732 changed to 0.695

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $664.45changed to$663.07

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 11.31 changed to 11.27
    • Malpractice RVU 0.95 changed to 0.92
    • 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

    $666.07changed to$664.45

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 11.27 changed to 11.31
    • Malpractice RVU 0.97 changed to 0.95

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $662.75changed to$666.07

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $659.36changed to$662.75

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 11.18 changed to 11.27
    • 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

    $661.79changed to$659.36

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 12.34 changed to 11.18
    • Malpractice RVU 1.01 changed to 0.97
    • 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: $661.79

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$647.24$443.75RVU26D
2026-07-01$647.24$443.75RVU26C
2026-04-01$647.24$443.75RVU26B
2026-01-01$647.24$443.75RVU26A
2025-10-01$611.57$462.10RVU25D
2025-07-01$611.57$462.10RVU25C
2025-04-01$611.57$462.10RVU25B
2025-01-01$611.57$462.10RVU25A
2024-10-01$630.77$472.34RVU24D
2024-07-01$630.77$472.34RVU24C
2024-04-01$630.77$472.34RVU24B
2024-03-09$630.77$472.34RVU24AR
2024-01-01$620.48$464.63RVU24A
2023-10-01$641.34$478.30RVU23D
2023-07-01$641.34$478.30RVU23C
2023-04-01$641.34$478.30RVU23B
2023-01-01$641.34$478.30RVU23A
2022-10-01$655.20$485.64RVU22D
2022-07-01$655.20$485.64RVU22C
2022-04-01$655.20$485.64RVU22B
2022-01-01$655.20$485.64RVU22A
2021-10-01$664.60$486.50RVU21D
2021-07-01$664.60$486.50RVU21C
2021-04-01$664.60$486.50RVU21B
2021-01-01$664.60$486.50RVU21A
2020-10-01$668.03$493.50RVU20D
2020-07-01$668.03$493.50RVU20C
2020-04-01$668.03$493.50RVU20B
2020-01-01$668.03$493.50RVU20A
2019-10-01$666.89$491.41RVU19D
2019-07-01$666.89$491.41RVU19C
2019-04-01$666.89$491.41RVU19B
2019-01-01$666.89$491.41RVU19A
2018-10-01$665.99$490.04RVU18D
2018-07-01$665.99$490.04RVU18C
2018-04-01$665.99$490.04RVU18B
2018-01-01$665.99$490.04RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$663.07$489.33RVU17D
2017-07-01$663.07$489.33RVU17C
2017-04-01$663.07$489.33RVU17B
2017-01-01$663.07$489.33RVU17A
2016-10-01$664.45$490.64RVU16D
2016-07-01$664.45$490.64RVU16C
2016-04-01$664.45$490.64RVU16B
2016-01-01$664.45$490.64RVU16A
2015-10-01$666.07$491.62RVU15D
2015-07-01$666.07$491.62RVU15C
2015-04-01$662.75$489.18RVU15B
2015-01-01$662.75$489.18RVU15A
2014-10-01$659.36$487.97RVU14D
2014-07-01$659.36$487.97RVU14C
2014-04-01$659.36$487.97RVU14B
2014-01-01$659.36$487.97RVU14A
2013-10-01$661.79$480.75RVU13D
2013-07-01$661.79$480.75RVU13C
2013-04-01$661.79$480.75RVU13B
2013-01-01$661.79$480.75RVU13AR

Price 28120 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

28120 billing questions

How does this differ from code 28122?

Code 28120 is for partial excision of the talus or calcaneus. Code 28122 addresses partial excision of other tarsal or metatarsal bones.

When is code 28100 a better fit?

Use 28100 for an excisional bone biopsy in the foot when the service is a biopsy, rather than the partial therapeutic excision reported by 28120.

What documentation supports reporting 28120?

The operative report should identify the talus or calcaneus, describe the portion and type of bone removal, and state the clinical reason, such as diseased bone or a localized lesion.

How is bilateral work reported?

When the procedure is performed on both sides, report modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

CMS restricts payment for an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is not permitted.

What postoperative care is included?

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

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 28120PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,132 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for North CarolinaGPCI2026.csv, line 83 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

Did this answer your question about what 28120 pays in North Carolina?

Tell us what you were actually trying to work out. We’ll answer you directly, or build the page that does.

Fee sheets · Coming soon

Put 28120 and the rest of your codes on one sheet

Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.

Join the waitlist