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CPT code 28234: Extensor tenotomy, single tendon2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in North Carolina

Reports open division of one extensor tendon in the foot or toe to reduce tendon pull contributing to a deformity or contracture.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality4.6K Medicare services in 2024

In North Carolina, Medicare pays $388.33 for 28234 in the office and $247.47 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$388.33Office (non-facility)
$247.47Hospital or facility
−5.7%vs the national office rate ($411.83)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 28234 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 28234 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in North Carolina
  2. What 28234 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 28234 covers

The surgeon makes an incision to expose and divide a single extensor tendon in the foot or toe. This may be performed by an orthopedic or podiatric surgeon to reduce tendon pull contributing to a deformity or contracture. The procedure is distinct from freeing a tendon from adhesions and from repairing a damaged tendon. It is typically performed in an operating room or outpatient surgical setting.

Report the code for one extensor tendon divided through an open approach; document the tendon and site, the clinical problem, and the work performed. The 90-day global period includes 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 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery, and 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 North Carolina compares for 28234

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 28234 runs from $365.76 in Arkansas to $544.41 in San Benito County, CA. North Carolina pays $388.33. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

28234 in North Carolina vs other payment areas
  1. North Carolina · this page$388.33
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$464.42+$76.09
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$470.05+$81.72
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$442.38+$54.05
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$430.06+$41.73
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$472.50+$84.17
  7. Alaska · Alaska$482.38+$94.05

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

Every other payment area

28234 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$370.94$238.84
ArkansasArkansas$365.76$236.08
ArizonaArizona$401.24$254.95
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$436.48$271.01
Chico, CACalifornia$435.34$269.88
El Centro, CACalifornia$435.41$269.94
Fresno, CACalifornia$435.34$269.88
Hanford, CACalifornia$435.34$269.88

28234 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.

$365.76

$489.88

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

View every state and territory as a table
28234 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$482.381
AL$370.941
AR$365.761
AZ$401.241
CA$435.34–$544.4129
CO$428.701
CT$438.621
DC$470.051
DE$407.751
FL$405.54–$442.383
GA$383.51–$419.212
GU$445.571
HI$445.571
IA$380.221
ID$382.581
IL$394.06–$430.064
IN$384.731
KS$378.421
KY$379.231
LA$378.63–$396.742
MA$426.23–$470.342
MD$415.38–$470.053
ME$384.42–$404.712
MI$388.70–$410.362
MN$411.381
MO$372.29–$398.213
MS$369.101
MT$411.811
NC$388.331
ND$404.491
NE$382.261
NH$421.941
NJ$443.79–$465.412
NM$390.731
NV$410.051
NY$393.95–$483.525
OH$387.201
OK$378.661
OR$407.03–$442.062
PA$387.85–$427.952
PR$414.771
RI$422.071
SC$388.381
SD$403.631
TN$380.251
TX$385.37–$427.148
UT$393.521
VA$403.37–$470.052
VI$414.771
VT$402.891
WA$425.44–$479.862
WI$391.341
WV$379.921
WY$408.621

See 28234 in every payment locality

How the 28234 rate is calculated

Each of 28234’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 · 28234

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work3.45

3.45 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense8.51

8.51 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.37

0.37 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

12.3300

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$411.83

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

3,157

Code
28234
Physician work
3.45
Practice expense
8.51
Malpractice
0.37

GPCI2026.csv

83

Locality
North Carolina
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.933
Malpractice
0.639
Office calculation for 28234 in North Carolina
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work3.45× 1.0003.4500
Practice expense8.51× 0.9337.9398
Malpractice0.37× 0.6390.2364
Total RVUs11.6263
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, North Carolina$388.33

Office: (3.45 × 1 + 8.51 × 0.933 + 0.37 × 0.639) × $33.4009 = $388.33

Facility: (3.45 × 1 + 3.99 × 0.933 + 0.37 × 0.639) × $33.4009 = $247.47

Open 28234 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 28234

28234 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 28234

Extensor tenotomy, single tendon

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)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
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 · 28234

Extensor tenotomy, 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.

  • 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 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

28234 without 51 · national office

$411.83

Extensor tenotomy, single tendon

28234-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$205.92

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%).

When to use modifier 51

Codes related to 28234

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

Codes related to 28234
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, North Carolina
Same family
28230Tendon incision, single extensor tendonOpen division of a flexor tendon in the foot, rather than an extensor tendon.$406.98
28232Toe tendon incision, single flexor tendonOpen division of a flexor tendon in a toe.$353.34
Used instead
28222Tendon release, single extensor tendonExtensor tendon adhesions are freed rather than the tendon being divided.$513.51
28285Hammertoe repair, lesser-toe deformity correctionHammertoe correction addresses the toe deformity rather than reporting an isolated tendon division.$517.87

How 28234 has changed in North Carolina

28234 · Office / nonfacility

$388.33

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $14.78 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $373.55 to $388.33 (4.0%).

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

    $373.55changed to$388.33

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 3.54 changed to 3.45
    • Practice expense RVU 8.39 changed to 8.51
    • Malpractice RVU 0.36 changed to 0.37
    • 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

    $385.35changed to$373.55

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 8.42 changed to 8.39

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $379.06changed to$385.35

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $388.86changed to$379.06

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 8.28 changed to 8.42
    • Malpractice RVU 0.35 changed to 0.36
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.927 changed to 0.926
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.742 changed to 0.665

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $394.84changed to$388.86

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 8.18 changed to 8.28
    • Malpractice RVU 0.34 changed to 0.35
    • 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

    $402.97changed to$394.84

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 8.33 changed to 8.18

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $403.14changed to$402.97

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 7.92 changed to 8.33
    • Malpractice RVU 0.35 changed to 0.34
    • 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

    $402.67changed to$403.14

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 7.96 changed to 7.92
    • Malpractice RVU 0.32 changed to 0.35
    • 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

    $400.64changed to$402.67

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 7.92 changed to 7.96
    • Malpractice RVU 0.31 changed to 0.32

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $400.75changed to$400.64

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 7.94 changed to 7.92
    • Malpractice RVU 0.32 changed to 0.31
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.732 changed to 0.695

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $399.93changed to$400.75

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • 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

    $402.93changed to$399.93

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 7.97 changed to 7.94
    • Malpractice RVU 0.34 changed to 0.32

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $400.93changed to$402.93

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $395.38changed to$400.93

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 7.81 changed to 7.97
    • Malpractice RVU 0.33 changed to 0.34
    • 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

    $402.48changed to$395.38

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 8.68 changed to 7.81
    • Malpractice RVU 0.35 changed to 0.33
    • 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: $402.48

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$388.33$247.47RVU26D
2026-07-01$388.33$247.47RVU26C
2026-04-01$388.33$247.47RVU26B
2026-01-01$388.33$247.47RVU26A
2025-10-01$373.55$254.04RVU25D
2025-07-01$373.55$254.04RVU25C
2025-04-01$373.55$254.04RVU25B
2025-01-01$373.55$254.04RVU25A
2024-10-01$385.35$258.35RVU24D
2024-07-01$385.35$258.35RVU24C
2024-04-01$385.35$258.35RVU24B
2024-03-09$385.35$258.35RVU24AR
2024-01-01$379.06$254.13RVU24A
2023-10-01$388.86$258.18RVU23D
2023-07-01$388.86$258.18RVU23C
2023-04-01$388.86$258.18RVU23B
2023-01-01$388.86$258.18RVU23A
2022-10-01$394.84$259.32RVU22D
2022-07-01$394.84$259.32RVU22C
2022-04-01$394.84$259.32RVU22B
2022-01-01$394.84$259.32RVU22A
2021-10-01$402.97$259.20RVU21D
2021-07-01$402.97$259.20RVU21C
2021-04-01$402.97$259.20RVU21B
2021-01-01$402.97$259.20RVU21A
2020-10-01$403.14$262.51RVU20D
2020-07-01$403.14$262.51RVU20C
2020-04-01$403.14$262.51RVU20B
2020-01-01$403.14$262.51RVU20A
2019-10-01$402.67$260.74RVU19D
2019-07-01$402.67$260.74RVU19C
2019-04-01$402.67$260.74RVU19B
2019-01-01$402.67$260.74RVU19A
2018-10-01$400.64$259.20RVU18D
2018-07-01$400.64$259.20RVU18C
2018-04-01$400.64$259.20RVU18B
2018-01-01$400.64$259.20RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$400.75$260.08RVU17D
2017-07-01$400.75$260.08RVU17C
2017-04-01$400.75$260.08RVU17B
2017-01-01$400.75$260.08RVU17A
2016-10-01$399.93$259.42RVU16D
2016-07-01$399.93$259.42RVU16C
2016-04-01$399.93$259.42RVU16B
2016-01-01$399.93$259.42RVU16A
2015-10-01$402.93$260.90RVU15D
2015-07-01$402.93$260.90RVU15C
2015-04-01$400.93$259.60RVU15B
2015-01-01$400.93$259.60RVU15A
2014-10-01$395.38$257.60RVU14D
2014-07-01$395.38$257.60RVU14C
2014-04-01$395.38$257.60RVU14B
2014-01-01$395.38$257.60RVU14A
2013-10-01$402.48$256.77RVU13D
2013-07-01$402.48$256.77RVU13C
2013-04-01$402.48$256.77RVU13B
2013-01-01$402.48$256.77RVU13AR

Price 28234 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

28234 billing questions

How does this differ from code 28230?

Code 28234 is for dividing an extensor tendon. Code 28230 describes an open division of a flexor tendon in the foot.

When is code 28232 a closer fit?

Code 28232 describes an open division of a flexor tendon in a toe. Code 28234 is for an extensor tendon.

Can code 28234 be reported with hammertoe correction?

Do not separately report it for tendon division that is part of the hammertoe correction. Documentation should support a distinct tendon procedure rather than repeating work included in the correction.

What documentation supports the code?

Record the foot or toe site, the specific extensor tendon divided, the open approach, and the deformity or other clinical reason for the procedure.

Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral procedures?

No. The descriptor or anatomy makes bilateral adjustment inappropriate for this code.

Is an assistant or co-surgeon payable?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. 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 28234PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,157 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for North CarolinaGPCI2026.csv, line 83 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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