FeeBase
Log inGet started
Menu

Billing code 26118: Hand tumor resectionMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports radical resection of a hand tumor measuring 3 cm or larger when the operative approach involves more than routine local excision.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities95 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $973.97 for 26118 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 26118

Hand tumor resection

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
14.44
Total RVUs
29.16
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$973.97

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 26118 → · Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 26118 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 26118 covers

A hand surgeon, commonly an orthopedic hand surgeon or surgical oncologist, uses this code for radical removal of a hand tumor measuring at least 3 cm. The procedure is generally performed in an operating room, with the tumor and surrounding tissue addressed as part of the documented radical resection. The operative report should identify the hand site, tumor size, and extent of removal.

Choose this code when both the radical resection and size threshold are supported; tumor size alone does not distinguish it from a routine excision. Code 26117 describes the corresponding radical resection for a tumor under 3 cm. This major surgery has 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% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be allowed; 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.

Where 26118 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

26118 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$882.48
Alaska*Unavailable$1,197.12
ArizonaUnavailable$947.75
ArkansasUnavailable$871.21
AtlantaUnavailable$1,001.27
AustinUnavailable$986.73
BakersfieldUnavailable$983.00
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$1,033.52
BeaumontUnavailable$931.57
BrazoriaUnavailable$952.90

26118 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.

View every state and territory as a table
26118 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 26118 rate is calculated

Each of 26118’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 · 26118

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 14.44Practice expense 11.81Malpractice 2.91

29.1600 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$973.97

All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 26118

26118 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 26118

Hand tumor resection

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)2Paid.
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 · 26118

Hand tumor resection

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.

  • 24 Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79 Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58 Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78 Unplanned 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

26118 without 51 · national facility

$973.97

Hand tumor resection

26118-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$486.99

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

26118 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

26118 vs 26117 vs 26113 vs 26111: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 26118
    Hand tumor resection · 14.44 wRVU
    —
  • 26117
    Hand tumor resection · 9.88 wRVU
    —
  • 26113
    Hand tumor excision · 6.95 wRVU
    —
  • 26111
    Hand mass excision · 5.28 wRVU
    —

How to choose

26117Hand tumor resection
This is the closest sibling code: 26117 is for radical resection of a hand tumor under 3 cm; 26118 is for a tumor measuring 3 cm or larger.
26113Hand tumor excision
26113 describes excision of a deep hand tumor measuring 1.5 cm or larger. Choose 26118 only when the operative report supports radical resection and the tumor is at least 3 cm.
26111Hand mass excision
26111 is for excision of a subcutaneous hand lesion measuring 1.5 cm or larger. It is not the radical resection code for a tumor at least 3 cm.

Codes related to 26118

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

Codes related to 26118
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
26117Hand tumor resectionRadical resection of a hand tumor under 3 cm.No office rate
Used instead
26113Hand tumor excisionExcision of a deep hand tumor measuring 1.5 cm or larger, rather than radical resection.No office rate
26116Hand tumor excisionExcision of a deep hand tumor under 1.5 cm.No office rate
26111Hand mass excisionExcision of a subcutaneous hand lesion measuring 1.5 cm or larger.No office rate

26118 billing questions

How does 26118 differ from 26117?

Both describe radical resection of a hand tumor. Use 26118 for a tumor measuring 3 cm or larger and 26117 for one under 3 cm.

Can tumor size alone support 26118?

No. The record should support a radical resection, as well as a tumor size of at least 3 cm; a large tumor removed by routine excision does not establish this service.

When is 26113 more appropriate?

26113 describes excision of a deep hand tumor measuring 1.5 cm or larger. Use 26118 when the documented procedure is a radical resection and the tumor is at least 3 cm.

Is modifier 50 appropriate for tumors on both hands?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inapplicable to this code, so modifier 50 is inappropriate.

What postoperative care is included?

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

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery payment may be allowed. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted for this code.

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 26118PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,550 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

Did this answer your question about what 26118 pays?

Tell us what you were actually trying to work out. We’ll answer you directly, or build the page that does.

Fee sheets

Put 26118 and the rest of your codes on one sheet

Build a fee sheet from your own code list at your locality, put your payer contracts beside Medicare, and see what changed each quarter.

Build my fee sheetOr price your code list free →