CPT code 28208: Tendon repair, foot extensor, no graft2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California
Reports primary or secondary repair of a foot extensor tendon without a free graft, typically to restore extension after a tendon injury.
Medicare pays $524.10–$652.87 for 28208 in the office in California, from Chico, CA to San Benito County, CA. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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On this page 9 sections
What 28208 covers
This service repairs a damaged extensor tendon in the foot, such as a tendon that lifts a toe after a laceration or rupture. The surgeon brings the tendon ends together or reattaches the tendon as needed to restore its function; a free tendon graft is not used. Orthopedic and podiatric surgeons commonly perform the repair in an operating room. The service is for each tendon repaired, not each incision or foot.
Choose this code when the operative report supports repair of a foot extensor tendon without a free graft. Document the tendon repaired, the injury or defect, the repair performed, and the number of tendons. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care for 90 days. 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. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. CMS does not pay an assistant at surgery; co-surgeons are paid only with 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.
Where 28208 pays more and less in California
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
29 payment localities
$524.10 to $652.87
29 of 29 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | $525.76 | $318.93 |
| Chico, CA | $524.10 | $317.27 |
| El Centro, CA | $524.19 | $317.36 |
| Fresno, CA | $524.10 | $317.27 |
| Hanford, CA | $524.10 | $317.27 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $558.96 | $335.71 |
| Madera, CA | $524.10 | $317.27 |
| Marin County, CA | $638.58 | $372.49 |
| Merced, CA | $524.10 | $317.27 |
| Modesto, CA | $524.10 | $317.27 |
| Napa, CA | $604.19 | $355.46 |
| Oxnard, CA | $555.95 | $332.89 |
| Redding, CA | $524.10 | $317.27 |
| Rest of California | $524.10 | $317.27 |
| Riverside, CA | $530.17 | $323.34 |
| Sacramento, CA | $549.18 | $329.70 |
| Salinas, CA | $547.11 | $328.39 |
| San Benito County, CA | $652.87 | $380.74 |
| San Diego, CA | $559.39 | $333.68 |
| San Francisco, CA | $637.94 | $371.86 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $538.40 | $323.46 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | $650.27 | $378.14 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $564.27 | $334.98 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $549.00 | $328.96 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $569.92 | $338.18 |
| Stockton, CA | $524.10 | $317.27 |
| Vallejo, CA | $603.27 | $354.54 |
| Visalia, CA | $524.10 | $317.27 |
| Yuba City, CA | $524.10 | $317.27 |
How the 28208 rate is calculated
Each of 28208’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 · 28208
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work4.40
4.40 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense9.96
9.96 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.56
0.56 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
14.9200
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$498.34
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 28208
28208 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 28208
Tendon repair, foot extensor, no graft
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.69/0.21 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 28208
Tendon repair, foot extensor, no graft
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.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
28208 without 51 · national office
$498.34
Tendon repair, foot extensor, no graft
28208-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$249.17
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%).
28208 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 28210Tendon repairFoot extensor, secondary with graft
- Use 28210 when a free graft is used to repair the foot extensor tendon; 28208 describes repair without a free graft.
- 28200Foot tendon repairFlexor, without free graft
- Use 28200 for repair of a foot flexor tendon without a free graft. This code is for an extensor tendon.
- 28202Tendon repairFlexor tendon with graft
- Use 28202 for foot flexor tendon repair with a free graft; it differs in both tendon type and graft use.
- 28220Foot tendon releaseSingle tendon
- This code addresses release of a foot tendon rather than repair of a damaged extensor tendon.
28208 billing questions
How does this differ from 28210?
Both codes concern repair of a foot extensor tendon. Use 28208 for repair without a free graft and 28210 when the repair uses a free graft.
Can this code be used for a flexor tendon repair?
No. This code is for a foot extensor tendon; 28200 is the corresponding repair code for a foot flexor tendon without a free graft.
How should the number of tendons be reported?
The service is reported for each tendon repaired. The operative report should identify the tendon or tendons and support the number of units billed.
Should modifier 50 be appended for repairs on both feet?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code because of its descriptor or anatomy.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during the 90 days after surgery.
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
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