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Billing code 26508: Thumb contracture releaseMedicare rate & RVUs

Surgical release of a fixed thumb contracture, reported when shortened soft tissue restricts thumb position or motion and requires operative correction.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities79 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $641.30 for 26508 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 26508

Thumb contracture release

Work RVUs
6.03
Total RVUs
19.20
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$641.30

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 26508 →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 26508 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 26508 covers

This service surgically releases shortened tissue that holds the thumb in a restricted position, such as a scar-related limitation of thumb opening or opposition. It is typically performed by a hand, orthopedic, or plastic surgeon when the restriction causes functional impairment and needs operative correction. The operative report should identify the affected thumb, the contracture and its effect on motion or function, and the tissue released.

Report the code for the thumb contracture release itself, distinguishing it from a finger or knuckle contracture release and from a tendon 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 other procedures at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. 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 26508 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

26508 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$575.58
Alaska*Unavailable$752.74
ArizonaUnavailable$623.74
ArkansasUnavailable$567.32
AtlantaUnavailable$655.37
AustinUnavailable$661.24
BakersfieldUnavailable$670.44
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$682.33
BeaumontUnavailable$602.37
BrazoriaUnavailable$631.62

26508 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
26508 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 26508 rate is calculated

Each of 26508’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 · 26508

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Work6.03

6.03 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense12.13

12.13 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice1.04

1.04 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

19.2000

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$641.30

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 26508

26508 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 26508

Thumb contracture release

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)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 · 26508

Thumb contracture release

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

26508 without 50 · national facility

$641.30

Thumb contracture release

26508-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$961.95

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

26508 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

  • 26508

    Thumb contracture release6.03 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 26520

    Knuckle release5.33 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 26525

    Contracture release5.36 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 26510

    Tendon transfer5.46 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

26520Knuckle release
Choose 26508 for the thumb. Choose 26520 when the contracture being released is at a knuckle joint.
26525Contracture release
Choose 26508 for a thumb contracture; 26525 addresses a finger contracture.
26510Tendon transfer
26508 releases contracted tissue. 26510 is for a thumb tendon transfer, which reroutes a tendon rather than releasing the contracture.

Codes related to 26508

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

Codes related to 26508
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Used instead
26520Knuckle releaseFor a contracture centered at a knuckle joint rather than the thumb.No office rate
26525Contracture releaseFor a contracture of a finger rather than the thumb.No office rate
26510Tendon transferDescribes thumb tendon transfer when correction requires tendon rerouting rather than contracture release.No office rate

26508 billing questions

How does this differ from 26520 or 26525?

Use 26508 for a contracture of the thumb. Codes 26520 and 26525 address contractures at a knuckle joint or in a finger, respectively.

Is this the right code for a thumb tendon transfer?

No. This code represents release of contracted tissue; 26510 describes a thumb tendon transfer, which changes tendon mechanics rather than releasing the contracture.

What documentation supports reporting this code?

Document the thumb contracture, its effect on motion or function, the operative release performed, and the side treated.

How is bilateral treatment reported?

For bilateral treatment, report modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.

Can an assistant surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery payment is allowed only when the record documents medical necessity. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?

CMS pays the highest-valued procedure in full and other procedures at 50% under the standard multiple procedure reduction.

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 26508PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,623 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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