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Billing code 26471: Finger tenodesisMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports fixation of a finger flexor tendon at the proximal interphalangeal joint to stabilize or control finger position during reconstructive hand surgery.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities220 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $643.64 for 26471 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 26471

Finger tenodesis

Work RVUs
5.75
Total RVUs
19.27
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$643.64

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 26471 →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 26471 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 26471 covers

This procedure anchors a finger flexor tendon at the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint to limit or redirect its pull and help control finger position. A hand, orthopedic, or plastic surgeon typically performs it as an operative treatment for a finger deformity or instability when tendon fixation is part of the reconstructive plan. The operative report should identify the finger, the flexor tendon, the PIP-level work, and the fixation performed.

Report this code when the surgeon performs flexor tendon tenodesis at the PIP joint, not a tendon release, length adjustment, or transfer. The major-surgery 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 others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity; 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 26471 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

26471 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$576.14
Alaska*Unavailable$750.65
ArizonaUnavailable$625.60
ArkansasUnavailable$567.67
AtlantaUnavailable$658.05
AustinUnavailable$664.06
BakersfieldUnavailable$673.23
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$685.53
BeaumontUnavailable$603.67
BrazoriaUnavailable$633.57

26471 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

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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
26471 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 26471 rate is calculated

Each of 26471’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 · 26471

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Work5.75

5.75 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense12.45

12.45 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice1.07

1.07 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

19.2700

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$643.64

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 26471

26471 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 26471

Finger tenodesis

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)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
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 · 26471

Finger tenodesis

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

26471 without 51 · national facility

$643.64

Finger tenodesis

26471-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$321.82

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

26471 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

  • 26471

    Finger tenodesis5.75 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 26474

    Tendon tenodesis5.35 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 26455

    Tendon incision3.67 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 26476

    Tendon lengthening5.22 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

26474Tendon tenodesis
Both are PIP-level finger tendon tenodeses. Select 26471 for the flexor tendon and 26474 for the extensor tendon.
26455Tendon incision
26455 is a finger flexor tenotomy, which cuts the tendon; 26471 fixes the flexor tendon at the PIP joint.
26476Tendon lengthening
26476 represents tendon lengthening. Use it when length is surgically adjusted rather than when the flexor tendon is fixed at the PIP joint.

Codes related to 26471

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

Codes related to 26471
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
26474Tendon tenodesisPIP-joint tenodesis of the extensor tendon rather than the flexor tendon.No office rate
Used instead
26476Tendon lengtheningTendon lengthening when the operative goal is length adjustment rather than PIP-level fixation.No office rate
26477Tendon shorteningTendon shortening when the operative goal is length adjustment rather than PIP-level fixation.No office rate

26471 billing questions

How is this different from code 26474?

This code is for flexor tendon tenodesis at the PIP joint; 26474 is the corresponding extensor tendon procedure. Follow the tendon treated in the operative report.

Can a flexor tenotomy be reported instead?

No. Code 26455 describes cutting a finger flexor tendon, while this code describes fixing the tendon at the PIP joint. Choose based on the procedure actually performed.

What documentation supports reporting this code?

Document the finger and flexor tendon treated, the PIP-joint location, the tendon fixation, and the condition prompting the reconstruction.

Does modifier 50 apply when both hands are treated?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code. Modifier 50 should not be used.

How does the multiple-procedure reduction affect payment?

When other procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. The 90-day global period includes related postoperative care.

Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery payment is allowed only when medical necessity is documented. 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 26471PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,604 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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