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Billing code 26483: Tendon transferMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports tendon transfer or reconstruction in the carpometacarpal region or back of the hand when a free tendon graft is used.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities797 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $835.02 for 26483 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 26483

Tendon transfer

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
8.27
Total RVUs
25.00
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$835.02

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 26483 → · 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 26483 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 26483 covers

This code covers transferring or reconstructing a tendon in the carpometacarpal region or on the back of the hand using a free tendon graft. Hand surgeons typically perform the operation to restore tendon function after injury, rupture, or a tendon defect. The recipient location and tendon involved distinguish this service from graft procedures directed to the palm or fingers.

Report the code when the operative note supports a tendon transfer or transplant at the specified hand location and documents use of a free graft. The code is reported per tendon. It has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, Medicare pays the highest-valued procedure in full and reduces the others to 50%. Do not use modifier 50; the descriptor or anatomy makes it inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is 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 26483 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

26483 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$748.97
Alaska*Unavailable$982.50
ArizonaUnavailable$811.77
ArkansasUnavailable$738.19
AtlantaUnavailable$854.49
AustinUnavailable$858.97
BakersfieldUnavailable$868.38
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$888.83
BeaumontUnavailable$785.73
BrazoriaUnavailable$821.14

26483 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
26483 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 26483 rate is calculated

Each of 26483’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 · 26483

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 8.27Practice expense 15.16Malpractice 1.57

25.0000 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$835.02

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 26483

26483 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 26483

Tendon transfer

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)1Permitted with supporting documentation.
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 · 26483

Tendon transfer

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

26483 without 51 · national facility

$835.02

Tendon transfer

26483-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$417.51

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

26483 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

26483 vs 26480 vs 26485 vs 26489: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 26483
    Tendon transfer · 8.27 wRVU
    —
  • 26480
    Tendon transfer · 8.78 wRVU
    —
  • 26485
    Tendon transfer · 7.69 wRVU
    —
  • 26489
    Tendon transfer · 9.61 wRVU
    —

How to choose

26480Tendon transfer
Both concern tendon transfer or transplant in the carpometacarpal region or dorsum of the hand. The distinguishing feature is use of a free tendon graft for 26483.
26485Tendon transfer
This code is directed to the palm or finger flexor tendon region; 26483 addresses the carpometacarpal region or back of the hand.
26489Tendon transfer
This code is directed to the palm or finger extensor tendon region; 26483 addresses the carpometacarpal region or back of the hand.

Codes related to 26483

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

Codes related to 26483
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
26480Tendon transferRelated dorsal hand or carpometacarpal tendon transfer code for procedures without a free graft.No office rate
26485Tendon transferRelated tendon transfer code for the palm or finger flexor tendon region.No office rate
26489Tendon transferRelated tendon transfer code for the palm or finger extensor tendon region.No office rate

26483 billing questions

How does this differ from 26480?

Both address tendon transfer or transplant in the carpometacarpal region or dorsum of the hand. Use 26483 when a free tendon graft is used; 26480 is the related option without a free graft.

Does the code include a tendon graft?

Yes. The operative documentation should identify the free graft and the recipient tendon and location.

How many units should be reported?

The code is reported per tendon. The operative report should support the number of tendons transferred or reconstructed.

Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral procedures?

No. The code's descriptor or anatomy makes modifier 50 inappropriate.

What postoperative care is included?

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

How are other procedures in the same session paid?

Medicare pays the highest-valued procedure in full and reduces the other procedures to 50%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation.

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 26483PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,611 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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