Billing code 26735: Finger fracture repairMedicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $564.48 for 26735 nationally in a facility.

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

What 26735 covers

This code covers open surgical treatment of a shaft fracture in the proximal or middle phalanx of a finger or thumb. The surgeon exposes the fracture and restores alignment; internal fixation, such as pins or other fixation devices, is included when performed. Hand surgeons and orthopedic surgeons commonly perform the service in an operating room, though treatment may occur in other appropriate surgical settings.

Report one service for each treated finger, selecting this code when the fracture is treated through an open approach rather than closed manipulation or immobilization alone. Operative documentation should identify the bone and fracture site, the open treatment, and any fixation used. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code’s anatomy and descriptor. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery; 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 26735 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

26735 rates by state

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

How the 26735 rate is calculated

Each of 26735’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 26735

26735 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 51

26735 compared with similar codes

How to choose

26720Finger fracture care

Use 26720 for closed treatment of a proximal or middle phalanx shaft fracture without manipulation; use 26735 when treatment is open.

26725Finger fracture treatment

Use 26725 for closed treatment with manipulation. Open surgical treatment of the shaft fracture is reported with 26735.

26746Finger fracture repair

26746 describes open treatment of a fracture involving a metacarpophalangeal or interphalangeal joint; 26735 is for a phalangeal shaft fracture.

26756Fracture fixation

26756 is for open treatment of a distal phalanx fracture. This code is for a proximal or middle phalanx shaft fracture.

Codes related to 26735

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

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates