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CPT code 28270: Foot contracture release, midfoot joint, each joint2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in North Carolina

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 North Carolina, Medicare pays $461.77 for 28270 in the office and $302.53 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$461.77Office (non-facility)
$302.53Hospital or facility
−5.5%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 North Carolina
  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 North Carolina 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. North Carolina pays $461.77. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

28270 in North Carolina vs other payment areas
  1. North Carolina · this page$461.77
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$546.60+$84.83
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$554.63+$92.86
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$526.95+$65.18
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$512.96+$51.19
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$559.15+$97.38
  7. Alaska · Alaska$581.72+$119.95

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

Every other payment area

28270 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$442.50$293.15
ArkansasArkansas$436.66$290.05
ArizonaArizona$476.60$311.21
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$515.06$328.00
Chico, CACalifornia$513.52$326.46
El Centro, CACalifornia$513.61$326.54
Fresno, CACalifornia$513.52$326.46
Hanford, CACalifornia$513.52$326.46

28270 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.

$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 North Carolina 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

83

Locality
North Carolina
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.933
Malpractice
0.639
Office calculation for 28270 in North Carolina
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work4.81× 1.0004.8100
Practice expense9.32× 0.9338.6956
Malpractice0.50× 0.6390.3195
Total RVUs13.8251
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, North Carolina$461.77

Office: (4.81 × 1 + 9.32 × 0.933 + 0.5 × 0.639) × $33.4009 = $461.77

Facility: (4.81 × 1 + 4.21 × 0.933 + 0.5 × 0.639) × $33.4009 = $302.53

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

Codes related to 28270

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

Codes related to 28270
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, North Carolina
Same family
28272Toe joint release, interphalangeal joint, eachCapsular release at a toe joint rather than a midfoot joint.$356.94
Used instead
28260Midfoot release, midfoot joint capsuleMidfoot capsulotomy with manipulation; distinguish the documented operative approach.$713.10
28262Midfoot release, extensive releaseFor an extensive midfoot capsulotomy rather than the per-joint release described here.$1,387.27
28230Tendon incision, single extensor tendonOpen extensor tendon incision in the foot, not a midfoot joint-capsule release.$406.98
28232Toe tendon incision, single flexor tendonOpen flexor tendon incision in a toe, not release of a midfoot joint capsule.$353.34

How 28270 has changed in North Carolina

28270 · Office / nonfacility

$461.77

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $17.48 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $444.29 to $461.77 (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

    $444.29changed to$461.77

    • 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
    • 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

    $458.23changed to$444.29

    • 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

    $450.75changed to$458.23

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $463.36changed to$450.75

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 9.04 changed to 9.19
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.927 changed to 0.926
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.742 changed to 0.665

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $472.21changed to$463.36

    • 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
    • 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

    $481.38changed to$472.21

    • 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

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $486.21changed to$481.38

    • 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
    • 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

    $487.05changed to$486.21

    • 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
    • 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

    $486.77changed to$487.05

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Malpractice RVU 0.48 changed to 0.47

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $484.24changed to$486.77

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 8.82 changed to 8.87
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.732 changed to 0.695

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $482.13changed to$484.24

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 8.79 changed to 8.82
    • Malpractice RVU 0.47 changed to 0.48
    • 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

    $485.09changed to$482.13

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 8.81 changed to 8.79
    • Malpractice RVU 0.49 changed to 0.47

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $482.67changed to$485.09

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $477.73changed to$482.67

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 8.67 changed to 8.81
    • Malpractice RVU 0.48 changed to 0.49
    • 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

    $482.02changed to$477.73

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 9.59 changed to 8.67
    • Malpractice RVU 0.50 changed to 0.48
    • 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: $482.02

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$461.77$302.53RVU26D
2026-07-01$461.77$302.53RVU26C
2026-04-01$461.77$302.53RVU26B
2026-01-01$461.77$302.53RVU26A
2025-10-01$444.29$314.30RVU25D
2025-07-01$444.29$314.30RVU25C
2025-04-01$444.29$314.30RVU25B
2025-01-01$444.29$314.30RVU25A
2024-10-01$458.23$320.14RVU24D
2024-07-01$458.23$320.14RVU24C
2024-04-01$458.23$320.14RVU24B
2024-03-09$458.23$320.14RVU24AR
2024-01-01$450.75$314.91RVU24A
2023-10-01$463.36$322.00RVU23D
2023-07-01$463.36$322.00RVU23C
2023-04-01$463.36$322.00RVU23B
2023-01-01$463.36$322.00RVU23A
2022-10-01$472.21$325.12RVU22D
2022-07-01$472.21$325.12RVU22C
2022-04-01$472.21$325.12RVU22B
2022-01-01$472.21$325.12RVU22A
2021-10-01$481.38$326.27RVU21D
2021-07-01$481.38$326.27RVU21C
2021-04-01$481.38$326.27RVU21B
2021-01-01$481.38$326.27RVU21A
2020-10-01$486.21$332.82RVU20D
2020-07-01$486.21$332.82RVU20C
2020-04-01$486.21$332.82RVU20B
2020-01-01$486.21$332.82RVU20A
2019-10-01$487.05$331.71RVU19D
2019-07-01$487.05$331.71RVU19C
2019-04-01$487.05$331.71RVU19B
2019-01-01$487.05$331.71RVU19A
2018-10-01$486.77$331.26RVU18D
2018-07-01$486.77$331.26RVU18C
2018-04-01$486.77$331.26RVU18B
2018-01-01$486.77$331.26RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$484.24$330.54RVU17D
2017-07-01$484.24$330.54RVU17C
2017-04-01$484.24$330.54RVU17B
2017-01-01$484.24$330.54RVU17A
2016-10-01$482.13$329.29RVU16D
2016-07-01$482.13$329.29RVU16C
2016-04-01$482.13$329.29RVU16B
2016-01-01$482.13$329.29RVU16A
2015-10-01$485.09$330.36RVU15D
2015-07-01$485.09$330.36RVU15C
2015-04-01$482.67$328.72RVU15B
2015-01-01$482.67$328.72RVU15A
2014-10-01$477.73$327.64RVU14D
2014-07-01$477.73$327.64RVU14C
2014-04-01$477.73$327.64RVU14B
2014-01-01$477.73$327.64RVU14A
2013-10-01$482.02$323.06RVU13D
2013-07-01$482.02$323.06RVU13C
2013-04-01$482.02$323.06RVU13B
2013-01-01$482.02$323.06RVU13AR

Price 28270 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

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 North CarolinaGPCI2026.csv, line 83 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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