CPT code 28226: Tendon release, multiple flexor tendons2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in New Mexico

Open tenolysis of multiple foot or toe flexor tendons frees restricted tendon glide when adhesions limit motion after injury or prior surgery.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality83 Medicare services in 2024

In New Mexico, Medicare pays $632.03 for 28226 in the office and $380.26 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$632.03Office (non-facility)
$380.26Hospital or facility
−5.0%vs the national office rate ($665.35)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 28226 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 28226 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in New Mexico
  2. What 28226 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 28226 covers

This procedure surgically frees adhesions restricting the glide of multiple flexor tendons in the foot or toes. An orthopedic or podiatric surgeon typically performs it in an operating room when scar tissue limits tendon excursion, often after prior trauma or surgery. The operative work is directed at freeing the tendons, rather than repairing a tendon rupture or cutting a tendon to correct deformity.

Report the code when the surgeon documents open adhesiolysis involving multiple flexor tendons; the operative note should identify the tendons treated and the adhesion release performed. A release of a single flexor tendon is distinguished by the neighboring single-tendon code. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. 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 multiple-procedure reduction. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code; 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.

How New Mexico compares for 28226

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 28226 runs from $581.70 in Arkansas to $879.32 in San Benito County, CA. New Mexico pays $632.03. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

28226 in New Mexico vs other payment areas
  1. New Mexico · this page$632.03
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$748.54+$116.51
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$762.81+$130.78
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$735.10+$103.07
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$711.20+$79.17
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$772.12+$140.09
  7. Alaska · Alaska$757.88+$125.85

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

Every other payment area

28226 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$591.06$350.82
ArkansasArkansas$581.70$345.86
ArizonaArizona$645.73$379.69
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$701.58$400.66
Chico, CACalifornia$698.88$397.97
El Centro, CACalifornia$699.05$398.13
Fresno, CACalifornia$698.88$397.97
Hanford, CACalifornia$698.88$397.97

28226 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.

$581.70

$789.10

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

View every state and territory as a table
28226 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$757.881
AL$591.061
AR$581.701
AZ$645.731
CA$698.88–$879.3229
CO$690.761
CT$712.271
DC$762.811
DE$657.031
FL$660.66–$735.103
GA$619.72–$680.072
GU$717.411
HI$717.411
IA$604.751
ID$609.641
IL$641.96–$711.204
IN$613.431
KS$602.971
KY$609.211
LA$608.70–$641.442
MA$686.61–$761.222
MD$669.95–$762.813
ME$614.52–$648.942
MI$627.75–$670.982
MN$656.241
MO$598.17–$642.343
MS$589.991
MT$665.281
NC$621.331
ND$645.901
NE$607.981
NH$680.961
NJ$718.82–$754.052
NM$632.031
NV$660.361
NY$631.59–$793.975
OH$623.791
OK$606.621
OR$653.70–$712.752
PA$624.13–$694.112
PR$670.141
RI$680.561
SC$623.911
SD$643.611
TN$606.451
TX$619.76–$689.808
UT$633.171
VA$647.55–$762.812
VI$670.141
VT$644.371
WA$684.97–$776.062
WI$622.511
WV$616.491
WY$656.841

See 28226 in every payment locality

How the 28226 rate is calculated

Each of 28226’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 · 28226

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work4.55

4.55 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense14.39

14.39 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.98

0.98 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

19.9200

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$665.35

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

The exact New Mexico inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

3,154

Code
28226
Physician work
4.55
Practice expense
14.39
Malpractice
0.98

GPCI2026.csv

77

Locality
New Mexico
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.917
Malpractice
1.201
Office calculation for 28226 in New Mexico
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work4.55× 1.0004.5500
Practice expense14.39× 0.91713.1956
Malpractice0.98× 1.2011.1770
Total RVUs18.9226
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, New Mexico$632.03

Office: (4.55 × 1 + 14.39 × 0.917 + 0.98 × 1.201) × $33.4009 = $632.03

Facility: (4.55 × 1 + 6.17 × 0.917 + 0.98 × 1.201) × $33.4009 = $380.26

Open 28226 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 28226

28226 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 28226

Tendon release, multiple flexor tendons

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)0Not permitted.
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 · 28226

Tendon release, multiple flexor tendons

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

28226 without 50 · national office

$665.35

Tendon release, multiple flexor tendons

28226-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$998.03

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 28226 has changed in New Mexico

28226 · Office / nonfacility

$632.03

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $65.20 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $566.83 to $632.03 (11.5%).

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

    $566.83changed to$632.03

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 4.67 changed to 4.55
    • Practice expense RVU 12.93 changed to 14.39
    • Malpractice RVU 0.95 changed to 0.98
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.908 changed to 0.917
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.172 changed to 1.201

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $585.62changed to$566.83

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 12.98 changed to 12.93
    • Malpractice RVU 0.97 changed to 0.95

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $576.06changed to$585.62

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $591.32changed to$576.06

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 12.95 changed to 12.98
    • Malpractice RVU 0.94 changed to 0.97
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.902 changed to 0.908
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.169 changed to 1.172
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $597.55changed to$591.32

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 12.81 changed to 12.95
    • Malpractice RVU 0.96 changed to 0.94
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.896 changed to 0.902
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.166 changed to 1.169

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $607.54changed to$597.55

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 13.01 changed to 12.81
    • Malpractice RVU 0.93 changed to 0.96

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $605.02changed to$607.54

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 12.11 changed to 13.01
    • Malpractice RVU 0.91 changed to 0.93
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.908 changed to 0.896
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.207 changed to 1.166

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $611.74changed to$605.02

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 12.06 changed to 12.11
    • Malpractice RVU 0.96 changed to 0.91
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.921 changed to 0.908
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.247 changed to 1.207

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $611.29changed to$611.74

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 12.08 changed to 12.06
    • Malpractice RVU 0.95 changed to 0.96

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $484.30changed to$611.29

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 9.16 changed to 12.08
    • Malpractice RVU 0.33 changed to 0.95
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.920 changed to 0.921
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.204 changed to 1.247

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $598.26changed to$484.30

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 11.90 changed to 9.16
    • Malpractice RVU 0.95 changed to 0.33
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.919 changed to 0.920
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.161 changed to 1.204

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $436.93changed to$598.26

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 7.72 changed to 11.90
    • Malpractice RVU 0.34 changed to 0.95

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $434.76changed to$436.93

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $569.41changed to$434.76

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 11.84 changed to 7.72
    • Malpractice RVU 0.33 changed to 0.34
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.918 changed to 0.919
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.079 changed to 1.161

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $580.27changed to$569.41

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 13.14 changed to 11.84
    • Malpractice RVU 0.35 changed to 0.33
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.916 changed to 0.918
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.997 changed to 1.079

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $580.27

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$632.03$380.26RVU26D
2026-07-01$632.03$380.26RVU26C
2026-04-01$632.03$380.26RVU26B
2026-01-01$632.03$380.26RVU26A
2025-10-01$566.83$384.44RVU25D
2025-07-01$566.83$384.44RVU25C
2025-04-01$566.83$384.44RVU25B
2025-01-01$566.83$384.44RVU25A
2024-10-01$585.62$392.18RVU24D
2024-07-01$585.62$392.18RVU24C
2024-04-01$585.62$392.18RVU24B
2024-03-09$585.62$392.18RVU24AR
2024-01-01$576.06$385.78RVU24A
2023-10-01$591.32$392.64RVU23D
2023-07-01$591.32$392.64RVU23C
2023-04-01$591.32$392.64RVU23B
2023-01-01$591.32$392.64RVU23A
2022-10-01$597.55$393.21RVU22D
2022-07-01$597.55$393.21RVU22C
2022-04-01$597.55$393.21RVU22B
2022-01-01$597.55$393.21RVU22A
2021-10-01$607.54$392.75RVU21D
2021-07-01$607.54$392.75RVU21C
2021-04-01$607.54$392.75RVU21B
2021-01-01$607.54$392.75RVU21A
2020-10-01$605.02$397.26RVU20D
2020-07-01$605.02$397.26RVU20C
2020-04-01$605.02$397.26RVU20B
2020-01-01$605.02$397.26RVU20A
2019-10-01$611.74$401.64RVU19D
2019-07-01$611.74$401.64RVU19C
2019-04-01$611.74$401.64RVU19B
2019-01-01$611.74$401.64RVU19A
2018-10-01$611.29$400.75RVU18D
2018-07-01$611.29$400.75RVU18C
2018-04-01$611.29$400.75RVU18B
2018-01-01$611.29$400.75RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$484.30$317.89RVU17D
2017-07-01$484.30$317.89RVU17C
2017-04-01$484.30$317.89RVU17B
2017-01-01$484.30$317.89RVU17A
2016-10-01$598.26$392.60RVU16D
2016-07-01$598.26$392.60RVU16C
2016-04-01$598.26$392.60RVU16B
2016-01-01$598.26$392.60RVU16A
2015-10-01$436.93$294.27RVU15D
2015-07-01$436.93$294.27RVU15C
2015-04-01$434.76$292.81RVU15B
2015-01-01$434.76$292.81RVU15A
2014-10-01$569.41$365.19RVU14D
2014-07-01$569.41$365.19RVU14C
2014-04-01$569.41$365.19RVU14B
2014-01-01$569.41$365.19RVU14A
2013-10-01$580.27$363.67RVU13D
2013-07-01$580.27$363.67RVU13C
2013-04-01$580.27$363.67RVU13B
2013-01-01$580.27$363.67RVU13AR

Price 28226 for an earlier date of service

Where the New Mexico rate applies

New Mexico is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 528 cities and communities in New Mexico. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Abeytas
  • Abiquiu
  • Acomita Lake
  • Adelino
  • Agua Fria
  • Alamillo
  • Alamo
  • Alamogordo

Browse all communities in New Mexico

28226 billing questions

How is 28226 distinguished from 28225?

28226 describes release of multiple flexor tendons. Use 28225 for the corresponding single-tendon release.

Is this a tendon repair code?

No. This code is for freeing adhesions that restrict tendon glide, not repairing a torn tendon. The operative note should support adhesiolysis rather than repair.

Can a toe flexor tenotomy be reported as 28226?

A tenotomy cuts or divides a tendon, whereas 28226 describes freeing multiple flexor tendons from adhesions. Choose based on the actual procedure documented.

What postoperative care is included?

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

How is bilateral work reported?

For a bilateral procedure, report modifier 50; Medicare pays the code at 150%.

Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be paid?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code, and co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

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 28226PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,154 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for New MexicoGPCI2026.csv, line 77 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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