CPT code 28270: Foot contracture release, midfoot joint, each joint2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in El Centro, CA

Reports release of a contracted midfoot joint capsule, with or without tendon repair, when surgery addresses restricted motion at that joint.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality17.4K Medicare services in 2024

In El Centro, CA, Medicare pays $513.61 for 28270 in the office and $326.54 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$513.61Office (non-facility)
$326.54Hospital or facility
+5.1%vs the national office rate ($488.66)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 28270 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 28270 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in El Centro, CA
  2. What 28270 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 28270 covers

The service releases a contracted capsule at a midfoot joint to improve motion or correct deformity. The surgeon may repair a tendon as part of the procedure. Podiatrists and orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons commonly perform it for a fixed joint contracture that requires operative correction, rather than a contracture treated by tendon release alone.

Report the code for each midfoot joint treated, and document the affected joint, side, contracture, and operative release; include any tendon repair 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 the others at 50%. For bilateral surgery, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code, 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 El Centro, CA compares for 28270

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 28270 runs from $436.66 in Arkansas to $636.17 in San Benito County, CA. El Centro, CA pays $513.61. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

28270 in El Centro, CA vs other payment areas
  1. El Centro, CA · this page$513.61
  2. Bakersfield, CA · California$515.06+$1.45
  3. Chico, CA · California$513.52−$0.09
  4. Fresno, CA · California$513.52−$0.09
  5. Hanford, CA · California$513.52−$0.09
  6. Los Angeles, CA · California$546.60+$32.99
  7. Madera, CA · California$513.52−$0.09

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

Every other payment area

28270 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Merced, CACalifornia$513.52$326.46
Modesto, CACalifornia$513.52$326.46
Napa, CACalifornia$589.55$364.60
Oxnard, CACalifornia$543.51$341.77
Redding, CACalifornia$513.52$326.46
Rest of CaliforniaCalifornia$513.52$326.46
Riverside, CACalifornia$518.98$331.91
Sacramento, CACalifornia$537.43$338.93

28270 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.

$436.66

$581.72

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

View every state and territory as a table
28270 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$581.721
AL$442.501
AR$436.661
AZ$476.601
CA$513.52–$636.1729
CO$506.851
CT$519.351
DC$554.631
DE$484.041
FL$483.36–$526.953
GA$458.24–$497.472
GU$524.271
HI$524.271
IA$452.121
ID$454.951
IL$470.97–$512.964
IN$457.351
KS$450.491
KY$452.681
LA$452.15–$472.562
MA$504.33–$553.802
MD$492.63–$554.633
ME$457.44–$479.692
MI$463.73–$489.222
MN$485.931
MO$445.26–$473.753
MS$441.031
MT$488.621
NC$461.771
ND$478.741
NE$454.301
NH$499.331
NJ$525.34–$549.722
NM$466.171
NV$486.181
NY$468.13–$572.085
OH$461.711
OK$451.621
OR$482.45–$521.502
PA$462.21–$507.532
PR$491.831
RI$500.181
SC$462.491
SD$477.571
TN$452.591
TX$459.45–$505.138
UT$468.271
VA$478.45–$554.632
VI$491.831
VT$477.291
WA$503.25–$564.302
WI$464.021
WV$455.071
WY$484.311

See 28270 in every payment locality

How the 28270 rate is calculated

Each of 28270’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 · 28270

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work4.81

4.81 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense9.32

9.32 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.50

0.50 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

14.6300

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$488.66

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

The exact El Centro, CA inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

3,165

Code
28270
Physician work
4.81
Practice expense
9.32
Malpractice
0.50

GPCI2026.csv

10

Locality
El Centro, CA
Physician work
1.017
Practice expense
1.096
Malpractice
0.541
Office calculation for 28270 in El Centro, CA
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work4.81× 1.0174.8918
Practice expense9.32× 1.09610.2147
Malpractice0.50× 0.5410.2705
Total RVUs15.3770
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, El Centro, CA$513.61

Office: (4.81 × 1.017 + 9.32 × 1.096 + 0.5 × 0.541) × $33.4009 = $513.61

Facility: (4.81 × 1.017 + 4.21 × 1.096 + 0.5 × 0.541) × $33.4009 = $326.54

Open 28270 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 28270

28270 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 28270

Foot contracture release, midfoot joint, each joint

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 · 28270

Foot contracture release, midfoot joint, each joint

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

28270 without 50 · national office

$488.66

Foot contracture release, midfoot joint, each joint

28270-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$732.99

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 28270 has changed in El Centro, CA

28270 · Office / nonfacility

$513.61

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $19.19 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $494.42 to $513.61 (3.9%).

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

    $494.42changed to$513.61

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 4.93 changed to 4.81
    • Practice expense RVU 9.15 changed to 9.32
    • Work GPCI 1.014 changed to 1.017
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.093 changed to 1.096
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.570 changed to 0.541

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $510.06changed to$494.42

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 9.19 changed to 9.15
    • Malpractice RVU 0.49 changed to 0.50

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $501.74changed to$510.06

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $510.99changed to$501.74

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 9.04 changed to 9.19
    • Work GPCI 1.021 changed to 1.014
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.079 changed to 1.093
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.595 changed to 0.570
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $515.80changed to$510.99

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 8.95 changed to 9.04
    • Malpractice RVU 0.50 changed to 0.49
    • Work GPCI 1.027 changed to 1.021
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.065 changed to 1.079
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.620 changed to 0.595

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $526.27changed to$515.80

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 9.13 changed to 8.95
    • Malpractice RVU 0.48 changed to 0.50
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.616 changed to 0.620

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $532.01changed to$526.27

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 8.77 changed to 9.13
    • Malpractice RVU 0.51 changed to 0.48
    • Work GPCI 1.024 changed to 1.027
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.070 changed to 1.065
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.606 changed to 0.616

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $534.20changed to$532.01

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 8.87 changed to 8.77
    • Malpractice RVU 0.47 changed to 0.51
    • Work GPCI 1.020 changed to 1.024
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.074 changed to 1.070
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.570 changed to 0.606

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $533.77changed to$534.20

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Malpractice RVU 0.48 changed to 0.47
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.567 changed to 0.570

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $533.23changed to$533.77

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 8.82 changed to 8.87
    • Work GPCI 1.024 changed to 1.020
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.079 changed to 1.074
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.610 changed to 0.567

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    No ratechanged to$533.23

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D, RVU14A, RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D, RVU15A, RVU15B, RVU15C, RVU15D, RVU16A, RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$513.61$326.54RVU26D
2026-07-01$513.61$326.54RVU26C
2026-04-01$513.61$326.54RVU26B
2026-01-01$513.61$326.54RVU26A
2025-10-01$494.42$340.98RVU25D
2025-07-01$494.42$340.98RVU25C
2025-04-01$494.42$340.98RVU25B
2025-01-01$494.42$340.98RVU25A
2024-10-01$510.06$347.07RVU24D
2024-07-01$510.06$347.07RVU24C
2024-04-01$510.06$347.07RVU24B
2024-03-09$510.06$347.07RVU24AR
2024-01-01$501.74$341.40RVU24A
2023-10-01$510.99$346.45RVU23D
2023-07-01$510.99$346.45RVU23C
2023-04-01$510.99$346.45RVU23B
2023-01-01$510.99$346.45RVU23A
2022-10-01$515.80$347.00RVU22D
2022-07-01$515.80$347.00RVU22C
2022-04-01$515.80$347.00RVU22B
2022-01-01$515.80$347.00RVU22A
2021-10-01$526.27$348.26RVU21D
2021-07-01$526.27$348.26RVU21C
2021-04-01$526.27$348.26RVU21B
2021-01-01$526.27$348.26RVU21A
2020-10-01$532.01$355.53RVU20D
2020-07-01$532.01$355.53RVU20C
2020-04-01$532.01$355.53RVU20B
2020-01-01$532.01$355.53RVU20A
2019-10-01$534.20$354.99RVU19D
2019-07-01$534.20$354.99RVU19C
2019-04-01$534.20$354.99RVU19B
2019-01-01$534.20$354.99RVU19A
2018-10-01$533.77$354.37RVU18D
2018-07-01$533.77$354.37RVU18C
2018-04-01$533.77$354.37RVU18B
2018-01-01$533.77$354.37RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$533.23$355.10RVU17D
2017-07-01$533.23$355.10RVU17C
2017-04-01$533.23$355.10RVU17B
2017-01-01$533.23$355.10RVU17A
2016-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16D
2016-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16C
2016-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16B
2016-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16A
2015-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15D
2015-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15C
2015-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15B
2015-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15A
2014-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14D
2014-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14C
2014-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14B
2014-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14A
2013-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price 28270 for an earlier date of service

Where the El Centro, CA rate applies

El Centro, CA is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 18 cities and communities in California. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • El Centro
  • Bombay Beach
  • Brawley
  • Calexico
  • Calipatria
  • Desert Shores
  • El Centro Naval Air Facility
  • Heber

Browse all communities in California

28270 billing questions

When is 28270 used instead of 28272?

Use 28270 for a contracted midfoot joint capsule. Code 28272 is for a toe joint capsule.

How are multiple joints reported?

The code is defined for each joint. Document each midfoot joint released and follow applicable claim instructions for reporting multiple units.

Can tendon work be included?

A tendon repair may be performed with the capsular release. If the operative service is a tendon incision or release rather than a joint-capsule release, consider the tendon procedure code that matches the work.

What does the 90-day global period include?

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

How is bilateral surgery paid?

CMS identifies this as a bilateral procedure; modifier 50 is paid at 150%.

May an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

An assistant at surgery is not paid 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 28270PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,165 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for El Centro, CAGPCI2026.csv, line 10 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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