CPT code 28225: Tendon release, flexor tendon2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Reports surgical release of a flexor tendon in the foot when adhesions or restriction limit tendon movement and require operative treatment.
Medicare pays $404.98–$441.66 for 28225 in the office in Florida, from Rest of Florida to Miami, FL. 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.
Your location
On this page 9 sections
What 28225 covers
This service involves freeing a flexor tendon in the foot when restricted glide interferes with movement. An orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon or podiatric surgeon may perform it in an operating room or other surgical setting, often for a tendon that remains tethered after prior surgery or injury. The operative work releases the tendon rather than repairing or grafting a damaged tendon or cutting it as a tenotomy.
Report the code when the operative note identifies the flexor tendon released, the foot and side treated, and the clinical restriction that prompted the procedure. This major surgery has a 90-day global period that includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For other procedures performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and additional procedures are paid at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted; 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 28225 pays more and less in Florida
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
3 payment localities
$404.98 to $441.66
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | $424.59 | $263.19 |
| Miami, FL | $441.66 | $275.80 |
| Rest of Florida | $404.98 | $252.67 |
How the 28225 rate is calculated
Each of 28225’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 · 28225
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work3.69
3.69 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense8.21
8.21 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.39
0.39 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
12.2900
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$410.50
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 28225
28225 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 28225
Tendon release, flexor 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) | 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 · 28225
Tendon release, flexor 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
28225 without 50 · national office
$410.50
Tendon release, flexor tendon
28225-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$615.75
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).
28225 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 28226Tendon releaseMultiple flexor tendons
- 28225 is for release of a flexor tendon; 28226 is the related extensor tendon release code. The operative report should establish which tendon was treated.
- 28222Tendon releaseSingle extensor tendon
- Both involve foot tendon release, but the code choice depends on the specific procedure and extent documented. Do not select based only on the short descriptor.
- 28230Tendon incisionSingle extensor tendon
- 28230 describes incision of foot tendon(s). Use 28225 when the work frees a restricted flexor tendon rather than cutting the tendon.
- 28232Toe tendon incisionSingle flexor tendon
- 28232 describes incision of a toe flexor tendon. This code is for release of a flexor tendon in the foot.
28225 billing questions
How is this different from a foot tendon tenotomy?
This code describes freeing a restricted flexor tendon. Tenotomy codes describe cutting or incising a tendon, rather than releasing adhesions to restore its glide.
What should the operative note identify?
Document the flexor tendon released, the foot and laterality, the reason its movement was restricted, and the release performed.
Does the 90-day global period include postoperative visits?
Yes. Related postoperative care for 90 days and the day-before preoperative visit are included in the global period.
How is bilateral treatment reported?
When the procedure is performed on both feet, modifier 50 identifies the bilateral service; CMS pays it at 150%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be paid?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted. Co-surgeons are paid only when supporting documentation is provided.
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
Fee sheets
Put 28225 and the rest of your codes on one sheet
Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.
Build my fee sheet