FeeBase
Log inGet started
Menu

Billing code 26499: Claw-finger correctionMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports operative correction of clawing in the fingers when the documented procedure is not represented by a more specific correction code.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities

Medicare pays $850.39 for 26499 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 26499

Claw-finger correction

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
8.94
Total RVUs
25.46
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$850.39

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 26499 → · 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 26499 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 26499 covers

This service addresses clawing of the fingers, a deformity in which the fingers assume a clawed posture because of altered muscle and tendon balance. A hand or orthopedic surgeon performs the operative correction, commonly to improve finger position and function. The operative report should identify the affected hand and digits, describe the deformity and corrective work performed, and explain why the procedure is not captured by a more specific code for the technique used.

Report the code only when the documented operation supports this other claw-finger correction rather than a separately described tendon realignment, transfer, release, or lengthening procedure. CMS assigns a 90-day global period: the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period are included. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; 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 26499 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

26499 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$761.70
Alaska*Unavailable$1,002.76
ArizonaUnavailable$826.07
ArkansasUnavailable$750.64
AtlantaUnavailable$871.91
AustinUnavailable$872.01
BakersfieldUnavailable$877.96
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$905.91
BeaumontUnavailable$801.94
BrazoriaUnavailable$834.35

26499 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
26499 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 26499 rate is calculated

Each of 26499’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 · 26499

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 8.94Practice expense 14.61Malpractice 1.91

25.4600 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$850.39

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 26499

26499 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 26499

Claw-finger correction

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 · 26499

Claw-finger correction

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

26499 without 51 · national facility

$850.39

Claw-finger correction

26499-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$425.20

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

26499 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

26499 vs 26497 vs 26498 vs 26437 vs 26476: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 26499
    Claw-finger correction · 8.94 wRVU
    —
  • 26497
    Tendon transfer · 9.52 wRVU
    —
  • 26498
    Tendon transfer · 13.85 wRVU
    —
  • 26437
    Tendon realignment · 5.84 wRVU
    —
  • 26476
    Tendon lengthening · 5.22 wRVU
    —

How to choose

26497Tendon transfer
This code is for an other claw-finger correction. Code 26497 is the more specific choice when the operative service is a finger tendon transfer.
26498Tendon transfer
Choose this code for another claw-finger correction not represented by a more specific procedure. Code 26498 describes a specific finger tendon-transfer service.
26437Tendon realignment
Code 26437 applies when the documented procedure is tendon realignment; this code is for another claw-finger correction not captured by a more specific procedure.
26476Tendon lengthening
Code 26476 describes tendon lengthening. Report this code when the operation is an other claw-finger correction rather than a specifically documented lengthening procedure.

Codes related to 26499

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

Codes related to 26499
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Used instead
26497Tendon transferA specific finger tendon-transfer procedure may be reported instead when that is the documented corrective technique.No office rate
26498Tendon transferCompare when the operative report describes a specific finger tendon transfer rather than another claw-finger correction.No office rate
26437Tendon realignmentA separately described tendon realignment may fit this more specific procedure instead.No office rate
26476Tendon lengtheningUse as a comparison when the documented corrective work is tendon lengthening.No office rate

26499 billing questions

When should this code be chosen instead of a finger tendon transfer code?

Use this code when the operative service is an other claw-finger correction and the documented work is not represented by a more specific procedure code. If the operation is specifically a finger tendon transfer, compare the documentation with codes 26497 and 26498.

What documentation supports reporting this correction?

The operative report should describe the clawing, identify the affected digits and hand, and explain the corrective work performed. Document why a more specifically described tendon procedure does not represent the service.

Is modifier 50 appropriate when both hands are treated?

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

What postoperative care is included in the payment?

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

How is this code affected when another procedure is performed in the same session?

Under the standard multiple procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the other procedures are paid at 50%.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. Co-surgeons are paid only when supporting documentation is provided; team surgery is 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 26499PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,620 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

Did this answer your question about what 26499 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 26499 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 →