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CPT code 28272: Toe joint release, interphalangeal joint, each2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Virginia

Reports surgical release of a contracted toe interphalangeal joint capsule, counted for each treated joint when the capsule itself is released.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality6.7K Medicare services in 2024

In Virginia, Medicare pays $369.62 for 28272 in the office and $234.34 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$369.62Office (non-facility)
$234.34Hospital or facility
−2.0%vs the national office rate ($377.10)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 28272 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 28272 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Virginia
  2. What 28272 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 28272 covers

This procedure releases a contracted capsule at a toe interphalangeal joint to improve motion or correct a fixed deformity. It may be performed by an orthopedic or podiatric surgeon during foot surgery, including treatment of a rigid toe contracture. The operative report should identify each treated joint and describe the capsular release; a tendon release alone is a different service.

Report the service for each interphalangeal joint released, and support the count with the operative findings and procedure details. 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 50% multiple procedure reduction. For bilateral performance, 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 Virginia compares for 28272

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 28272 runs from $337.89 in Arkansas to $490.82 in San Benito County, CA. Virginia pays $369.62. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

28272 in Virginia vs other payment areas
  1. Virginia · this page$369.62
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$421.92+$52.30
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$427.64+$58.02
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$404.72+$35.10
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$394.32+$24.70
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$430.64+$61.02
  7. Alaska · Alaska$451.10+$81.48

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

Every other payment area

28272 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$342.30$221.89
ArkansasArkansas$337.89$219.69
ArizonaArizona$368.04$234.69
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$397.78$246.96
Chico, CACalifornia$396.67$245.85
El Centro, CACalifornia$396.73$245.91
Fresno, CACalifornia$396.67$245.85
Hanford, CACalifornia$396.67$245.85

28272 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.

$337.89

$451.10

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

View every state and territory as a table
28272 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$451.101
AL$342.301
AR$337.891
AZ$368.041
CA$396.67–$490.8229
CO$391.291
CT$400.411
DC$427.641
DE$373.701
FL$372.51–$404.723
GA$353.66–$383.632
GU$404.761
HI$404.761
IA$349.831
ID$351.911
IL$362.99–$394.324
IN$353.731
KS$348.471
KY$349.711
LA$349.26–$364.652
MA$389.37–$427.182
MD$380.27–$427.643
ME$353.65–$370.642
MI$357.91–$376.792
MN$375.761
MO$343.97–$365.703
MS$340.991
MT$377.071
NC$356.941
ND$370.151
NE$351.511
NH$385.391
NJ$405.21–$423.982
NM$359.711
NV$375.381
NY$361.73–$440.235
OH$356.501
OK$349.041
OR$372.67–$402.542
PA$356.95–$391.402
PR$379.541
RI$386.111
SC$357.271
SD$369.331
TN$350.041
TX$354.86–$389.818
UT$361.631
VA$369.62–$427.642
VI$379.541
VT$368.941
WA$388.57–$435.322
WI$359.021
WV$350.981
WY$374.061

See 28272 in every payment locality

How the 28272 rate is calculated

Each of 28272’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 · 28272

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work3.82

3.82 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense7.12

7.12 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.35

0.35 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

11.2900

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$377.10

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

The exact Virginia inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

3,166

Code
28272
Physician work
3.82
Practice expense
7.12
Malpractice
0.35

GPCI2026.csv

106

Locality
Virginia
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.983
Malpractice
0.706
Office calculation for 28272 in Virginia
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work3.82× 1.0003.8200
Practice expense7.12× 0.9836.9990
Malpractice0.35× 0.7060.2471
Total RVUs11.0661
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Virginia$369.62

Office: (3.82 × 1 + 7.12 × 0.983 + 0.35 × 0.706) × $33.4009 = $369.62

Facility: (3.82 × 1 + 3 × 0.983 + 0.35 × 0.706) × $33.4009 = $234.34

Open 28272 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 28272

28272 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 28272

Toe joint release, interphalangeal joint, each

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 · 28272

Toe joint release, interphalangeal joint, each

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

28272 without 50 · national office

$377.10

Toe joint release, interphalangeal joint, each

28272-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$565.65

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 28272

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

Codes related to 28272
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Virginia
Same family
28270Foot contracture release, midfoot joint, each jointCapsular release at the metatarsophalangeal joint rather than a toe interphalangeal joint.$478.45
Used instead
28285Hammertoe repair, lesser-toe deformity correctionHammertoe correction code to consider when the operation corrects the deformity rather than reporting an isolated capsular release.$536.49
28232Toe tendon incision, single flexor tendonOpen flexor tendon release; selected when the released structure is tendon rather than joint capsule.$366.53

How 28272 has changed in Virginia

28272 · Office / nonfacility

$369.62

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $7.03 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $362.59 to $369.62 (1.9%).

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

    $362.59changed to$369.62

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 3.92 changed to 3.82
    • Practice expense RVU 7.17 changed to 7.12
    • Malpractice RVU 0.30 changed to 0.35
    • Work GPCI 1.002 changed to 1.000
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.984 changed to 0.983
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.755 changed to 0.706

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $375.94changed to$362.59

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 7.24 changed to 7.17
    • Malpractice RVU 0.32 changed to 0.30

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $369.80changed to$375.94

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $380.43changed to$369.80

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 7.13 changed to 7.24
    • Malpractice RVU 0.30 changed to 0.32
    • Work GPCI 1.000 changed to 1.002
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.990 changed to 0.984
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.826 changed to 0.755

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $389.72changed to$380.43

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 7.09 changed to 7.13
    • Malpractice RVU 0.32 changed to 0.30
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.995 changed to 0.990
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.897 changed to 0.826

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $398.19changed to$389.72

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 7.25 changed to 7.09
    • Malpractice RVU 0.31 changed to 0.32

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $402.64changed to$398.19

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 7.02 changed to 7.25
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.991 changed to 0.995
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.903 changed to 0.897

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $404.18changed to$402.64

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 7.15 changed to 7.02
    • Malpractice RVU 0.27 changed to 0.31
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.986 changed to 0.991
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.908 changed to 0.903

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $404.80changed to$404.18

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 7.18 changed to 7.15

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $403.87changed to$404.80

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 7.19 changed to 7.18
    • Malpractice RVU 0.29 changed to 0.27
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.985 changed to 0.986
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.866 changed to 0.908

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $401.97changed to$403.87

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.983 changed to 0.985
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.824 changed to 0.866

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $404.01changed to$401.97

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Malpractice RVU 0.31 changed to 0.29

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $402.00changed to$404.01

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $396.64changed to$402.00

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 7.06 changed to 7.19
    • Malpractice RVU 0.30 changed to 0.31
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.980 changed to 0.983
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.778 changed to 0.824

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $398.03changed to$396.64

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 7.73 changed to 7.06
    • Malpractice RVU 0.31 changed to 0.30
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.977 changed to 0.980
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.731 changed to 0.778

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $398.03

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$369.62$234.34RVU26D
2026-07-01$369.62$234.34RVU26C
2026-04-01$369.62$234.34RVU26B
2026-01-01$369.62$234.34RVU26A
2025-10-01$362.59$243.87RVU25D
2025-07-01$362.59$243.87RVU25C
2025-04-01$362.59$243.87RVU25B
2025-01-01$362.59$243.87RVU25A
2024-10-01$375.94$249.17RVU24D
2024-07-01$375.94$249.17RVU24C
2024-04-01$375.94$249.17RVU24B
2024-03-09$375.94$249.17RVU24AR
2024-01-01$369.80$245.11RVU24A
2023-10-01$380.43$249.60RVU23D
2023-07-01$380.43$249.60RVU23C
2023-04-01$380.43$249.60RVU23B
2023-01-01$380.43$249.60RVU23A
2022-10-01$389.72$252.68RVU22D
2022-07-01$389.72$252.68RVU22C
2022-04-01$389.72$252.68RVU22B
2022-01-01$389.72$252.68RVU22A
2021-10-01$398.19$253.07RVU21D
2021-07-01$398.19$253.07RVU21C
2021-04-01$398.19$253.07RVU21B
2021-01-01$398.19$253.07RVU21A
2020-10-01$402.64$259.58RVU20D
2020-07-01$402.64$259.58RVU20C
2020-04-01$402.64$259.58RVU20B
2020-01-01$402.64$259.58RVU20A
2019-10-01$404.18$259.56RVU19D
2019-07-01$404.18$259.56RVU19C
2019-04-01$404.18$259.56RVU19B
2019-01-01$404.18$259.56RVU19A
2018-10-01$404.80$259.63RVU18D
2018-07-01$404.80$259.63RVU18C
2018-04-01$404.80$259.63RVU18B
2018-01-01$404.80$259.63RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$403.87$259.64RVU17D
2017-07-01$403.87$259.64RVU17C
2017-04-01$403.87$259.64RVU17B
2017-01-01$403.87$259.64RVU17A
2016-10-01$401.97$258.37RVU16D
2016-07-01$401.97$258.37RVU16C
2016-04-01$401.97$258.37RVU16B
2016-01-01$401.97$258.37RVU16A
2015-10-01$404.01$259.89RVU15D
2015-07-01$404.01$259.89RVU15C
2015-04-01$402.00$258.60RVU15B
2015-01-01$402.00$258.60RVU15A
2014-10-01$396.64$256.21RVU14D
2014-07-01$396.64$256.21RVU14C
2014-04-01$396.64$256.21RVU14B
2014-01-01$396.64$256.21RVU14A
2013-10-01$398.03$251.44RVU13D
2013-07-01$398.03$251.44RVU13C
2013-04-01$398.03$251.44RVU13B
2013-01-01$398.03$251.44RVU13AR

Price 28272 for an earlier date of service

Where the Virginia rate applies

Virginia is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 628 cities and communities in Virginia. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Abbs Valley
  • Abingdon
  • Accomac
  • Adwolf
  • Afton
  • Alberta
  • Aldie
  • Allison Gap

Browse all communities in Virginia

28272 billing questions

How does this differ from 28270?

28272 is for release at a toe interphalangeal joint. 28270 concerns the metatarsophalangeal joint, where the toe meets the foot.

Can this be reported with hammertoe correction 28285?

Choose the code that represents the operation actually performed. When the interphalangeal release is part of the hammertoe correction, review the operative work and applicable coding guidance before reporting a separate capsulotomy.

Is a flexor tendon release enough to report 28272?

No. This code represents release of the interphalangeal joint capsule; an open flexor tendon release is a different procedure, described by 28232.

How many units should be reported?

Report each interphalangeal joint released. Document the specific toe and joint for every release.

What Medicare payment rules affect bilateral cases and other procedures in the session?

Modifier 50 is paid at 150% for bilateral performance. In a session with multiple procedures, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the 50% multiple procedure reduction.

Does Medicare pay an assistant surgeon for this service?

No. Medicare's statutory restriction bars assistant-at-surgery payment for this code; co-surgeons and team surgery are also 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 28272PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,166 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for VirginiaGPCI2026.csv, line 106 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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