CPT code 28220: Foot tendon release, single tendon2026 Medicare rate & RVUs
Reports surgical release of adhesions restricting one flexor or extensor tendon in the foot, typically to restore tendon glide after injury or prior surgery.
Medicare pays $446.57 for 28220 nationally in the office and $288.58 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $399.98–$580.18.
Medicare rate · 28220
Foot tendon release, single tendon
- Work RVUs
- 4.55
- Total RVUs
- 13.37
- Global days
- 090
National rate · 2026
$446.57
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 28220 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →
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 10 sections
What 28220 covers
This operation frees a single flexor or extensor tendon in the foot from restrictive scar tissue or adhesions that limit its movement. An orthopedic or podiatric surgeon typically performs it in an operating room, often when motion remains restricted after trauma or a prior procedure. The operative work addresses tendon glide by releasing surrounding adhesions; it is distinct from repairing a torn tendon or cutting a tendon to change its function.
Report this code when the operative record identifies the treated foot tendon and documents adhesion release involving one tendon. Distinguish it from codes for multiple-tendon release and tendon repair by the structures treated and the work performed. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For same-session procedures, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery services are not paid; co-surgeons and team surgery 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.
Where 28220 pays more and less
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
109 payment localities
$399.98 to $580.18
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $405.20 | $266.97 |
| Alaska | $534.15 | $365.90 |
| Arizona | $435.78 | $282.69 |
| Arkansas | $399.98 | $264.27 |
| Atlanta, GA | $454.46 | $293.94 |
| Austin, TX | $461.43 | $294.28 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $470.58 | $297.43 |
| Baltimore area, MD | $472.92 | $303.40 |
| Beaumont, TX | $420.34 | $276.57 |
| Brazoria, TX | $442.03 | $285.47 |
| Chicago, IL | $468.07 | $309.29 |
| Chico, CA | $469.20 | $296.05 |
| Colorado | $463.09 | $294.99 |
| Connecticut | $474.25 | $304.10 |
| Dallas, TX | $444.73 | $287.38 |
| Delaware | $442.49 | $286.40 |
| Detroit, MI | $446.86 | $294.40 |
| East St. Louis, IL | $439.08 | $293.73 |
| El Centro, CA | $469.28 | $296.13 |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | $462.08 | $302.04 |
| Fort Worth, TX | $442.12 | $286.35 |
| Fresno, CA | $469.20 | $296.05 |
| Galveston, TX | $443.30 | $286.42 |
| Hanford, CA | $469.20 | $296.05 |
| Hawaii, Guam, HI | $478.73 | $299.10 |
| Houston, TX | $451.35 | $294.47 |
| Idaho | $416.43 | $271.09 |
| Indiana | $418.58 | $272.13 |
| Iowa | $413.92 | $269.36 |
| Kansas | $412.41 | $269.59 |
| Kentucky | $414.25 | $273.80 |
| King County, WA | $515.02 | $321.17 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $499.08 | $312.19 |
| Madera, CA | $469.20 | $296.05 |
| Manhattan, NY | $510.25 | $326.67 |
| Marin County, CA | $567.82 | $345.06 |
| Merced, CA | $469.20 | $296.05 |
| Metropolitan Boston, MA | $505.48 | $316.85 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City, MO | $429.16 | $280.81 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia, PA | $463.62 | $299.15 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MO | $433.16 | $282.76 |
| Miami, FL | $480.52 | $316.05 |
| Minnesota | $444.34 | $281.77 |
| Mississippi | $403.83 | $267.80 |
| Modesto, CA | $469.20 | $296.05 |
| Montana | $446.54 | $288.55 |
| Napa, CA | $537.92 | $329.70 |
| Nebraska | $415.88 | $270.06 |
| Nevada | $444.40 | $286.25 |
| New Hampshire | $456.21 | $291.75 |
| New Mexico | $426.29 | $281.42 |
| New Orleans, LA | $432.05 | $283.39 |
| North Carolina | $422.51 | $275.11 |
| North Dakota | $437.84 | $279.85 |
| Northern New Jersey | $501.93 | $318.66 |
| NYC suburbs and Long Island, NY | $521.79 | $333.95 |
| Ohio | $422.34 | $278.09 |
| Oklahoma | $413.34 | $272.26 |
| Oxnard, CA | $496.23 | $309.49 |
| Portland, OR | $476.31 | $300.79 |
| Poughkeepsie and northern NYC suburbs, NY | $483.09 | $310.09 |
| Puerto Rico | $449.43 | $289.70 |
| Queens, NY | $513.73 | $326.99 |
| Redding, CA | $469.20 | $296.05 |
| Rest of California | $469.20 | $296.05 |
| Rest of Florida | $441.65 | $290.61 |
| Rest of Georgia | $419.16 | $278.24 |
| Rest of Illinois | $430.49 | $286.25 |
| Rest of Louisiana | $413.76 | $273.95 |
| Rest of Maine | $418.62 | $273.28 |
| Rest of Maryland | $450.24 | $290.36 |
| Rest of Massachusetts | $460.85 | $294.49 |
| Rest of Michigan | $424.11 | $279.87 |
| Rest of Missouri | $407.56 | $271.38 |
| Rest of New Jersey | $479.83 | $307.30 |
| Rest of New York | $428.21 | $278.12 |
| Rest of Oregon | $441.09 | $283.73 |
| Rest of Pennsylvania | $422.81 | $277.78 |
| Rest of Texas | $430.87 | $280.94 |
| Rest of Washington | $459.87 | $293.51 |
| Rhode Island | $457.11 | $293.91 |
| Riverside, CA | $474.02 | $300.86 |
| Sacramento, CA | $490.85 | $307.11 |
| Salinas, CA | $488.97 | $305.86 |
| San Benito County, CA | $580.18 | $352.37 |
| San Diego, CA | $499.26 | $310.31 |
| San Francisco, CA | $567.32 | $344.56 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $481.24 | $301.29 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | $578.14 | $350.32 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $503.12 | $311.17 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $490.47 | $306.26 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $508.13 | $314.12 |
| South Carolina | $423.09 | $277.11 |
| South Dakota | $436.81 | $278.83 |
| Southern Maine, ME | $438.63 | $282.06 |
| Stockton, CA | $469.20 | $296.05 |
| Suburban Chicago, IL | $466.54 | $304.28 |
| Tennessee | $414.29 | $270.69 |
| Utah | $428.28 | $279.77 |
| Vallejo, CA | $537.20 | $328.98 |
| Vermont | $436.51 | $280.10 |
| Virgin Islands, VI | $449.43 | $289.70 |
| Virginia | $437.49 | $282.19 |
| Visalia, CA | $469.20 | $296.05 |
| Washington, DC area | $506.26 | $320.15 |
| West Virginia | $416.24 | $278.95 |
| Wisconsin | $424.64 | $273.29 |
| Wyoming | $442.75 | $284.76 |
| Yuba City, CA | $469.20 | $296.05 |
28220 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.
$399.98
$534.15
Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.
View every state and territory as a table
| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $534.15 | 1 |
| AL | $405.20 | 1 |
| AR | $399.98 | 1 |
| AZ | $435.78 | 1 |
| CA | $469.20–$580.18 | 29 |
| CO | $463.09 | 1 |
| CT | $474.25 | 1 |
| DC | $506.26 | 1 |
| DE | $442.49 | 1 |
| FL | $441.65–$480.52 | 3 |
| GA | $419.16–$454.46 | 2 |
| GU | $478.73 | 1 |
| HI | $478.73 | 1 |
| IA | $413.92 | 1 |
| ID | $416.43 | 1 |
| IL | $430.49–$468.07 | 4 |
| IN | $418.58 | 1 |
| KS | $412.41 | 1 |
| KY | $414.25 | 1 |
| LA | $413.76–$432.05 | 2 |
| MA | $460.85–$505.48 | 2 |
| MD | $450.24–$506.26 | 3 |
| ME | $418.62–$438.63 | 2 |
| MI | $424.11–$446.86 | 2 |
| MN | $444.34 | 1 |
| MO | $407.56–$433.16 | 3 |
| MS | $403.83 | 1 |
| MT | $446.54 | 1 |
| NC | $422.51 | 1 |
| ND | $437.84 | 1 |
| NE | $415.88 | 1 |
| NH | $456.21 | 1 |
| NJ | $479.83–$501.93 | 2 |
| NM | $426.29 | 1 |
| NV | $444.40 | 1 |
| NY | $428.21–$521.79 | 5 |
| OH | $422.34 | 1 |
| OK | $413.34 | 1 |
| OR | $441.09–$476.31 | 2 |
| PA | $422.81–$463.62 | 2 |
| PR | $449.43 | 1 |
| RI | $457.11 | 1 |
| SC | $423.09 | 1 |
| SD | $436.81 | 1 |
| TN | $414.29 | 1 |
| TX | $420.34–$461.43 | 8 |
| UT | $428.28 | 1 |
| VA | $437.49–$506.26 | 2 |
| VI | $449.43 | 1 |
| VT | $436.51 | 1 |
| WA | $459.87–$515.02 | 2 |
| WI | $424.64 | 1 |
| WV | $416.24 | 1 |
| WY | $442.75 | 1 |
How the 28220 rate is calculated
Each of 28220’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 · 28220
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work4.55
4.55 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense8.38
8.38 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.44
0.44 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
13.3700
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$446.57
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 28220
28220 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 28220
Foot tendon release, single tendon
| 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) | 1 | Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| 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 · 28220
Foot tendon release, single tendon
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 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
28220 without 50 · national office
$446.57
Foot tendon release, single tendon
28220-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$669.86
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).
28220 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 28222Tendon releaseSingle extensor tendon
- Choose 28220 for adhesion release involving one tendon. 28222 describes release involving multiple tendons.
- 28200Foot tendon repairFlexor, without free graft
- 28200 is for repair of a foot flexor tendon. 28220 is for freeing one tendon from restrictive adhesions, not repairing a tendon injury.
- 28230Tendon incisionSingle extensor tendon
- 28230 describes incision of a foot tendon. 28220 addresses adhesions restricting tendon glide, rather than tendon incision as the operative objective.
28220 billing questions
When is this code appropriate instead of a tendon repair code?
Use it for release of adhesions restricting one foot tendon, rather than repair of a tendon injury. The operative note should support adhesion release as the work performed.
How does this differ from 28222?
28220 describes release involving a single tendon. 28222 is the nearby multiple-tendon release code.
What should the operative note document?
Identify the foot tendon treated and describe the adhesions and their release. The record should make clear that the work involved one tendon, not tendon repair or a different type of release.
How is bilateral reporting paid?
CMS lists this as a bilateral procedure. Reporting modifier 50 results in payment at 150%.
Are assistant-at-surgery or co-surgeon services payable?
CMS lists a statutory restriction on assistant-at-surgery payment for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?
Under the standard multiple-procedure rule, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are paid at 50%.
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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