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Billing code 26951: Digit amputationMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports removal of a finger or thumb at a joint or phalanx when the remaining tissue is closed directly rather than with an advancement flap.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities6K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $699.41 for 26951 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 26951

Digit amputation

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
5.89
Total RVUs
20.94
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$699.41

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 26951 → · 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 26951 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 26951 covers

A hand surgeon or other qualified surgeon removes a finger or thumb at a joint or through a phalanx, then closes the remaining tissue directly. The operation may be performed for a digit that is nonviable after trauma or has severe infection or tissue loss. The code covers primary or secondary amputation and includes neurectomies. It is distinct from an amputation requiring a local advancement flap for closure.

Document the digit, level of amputation, clinical reason, and closure method; the record should support direct closure rather than flap reconstruction. Medicare applies 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 other procedures are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery, and co-surgeon and team-surgery billing 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 26951 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

26951 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$624.50
Alaska*Unavailable$810.37
ArizonaUnavailable$679.42
ArkansasUnavailable$615.09
AtlantaUnavailable$715.28
AustinUnavailable$722.24
BakersfieldUnavailable$732.38
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$745.67
BeaumontUnavailable$654.92
BrazoriaUnavailable$688.22

26951 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
26951 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 26951 rate is calculated

Each of 26951’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 · 26951

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 5.89Practice expense 13.88Malpractice 1.17

20.9400 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$699.41

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 26951

26951 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 26951

Digit amputation

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)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
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 · 26951

Digit amputation

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

26951 without 51 · national facility

$699.41

Digit amputation

26951-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$349.71

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

26951 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

26951 vs 26952 vs 26910 vs 26989: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 26951
    Digit amputation · 5.89 wRVU
    —
  • 26952
    Digit amputation · 6.32 wRVU
    —
  • 26910
    Ray amputation · 7.6 wRVU
    —
  • 26989
    · 0 wRVU
    —

How to choose

26952Digit amputation
Choose 26951 for direct closure. Choose 26952 when a local advancement flap is used to close the amputation site.
26910Ray amputation
Code 26910 describes removal that includes the metacarpal as a ray amputation; 26951 is for amputation at a joint or phalanx.
26989Unlisted px hands/fingers
Use 26989 only when the hand or finger procedure is not represented by a specific listed code such as 26951 or 26952.

Codes related to 26951

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

Codes related to 26951
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
26952Digit amputationSibling code for finger or thumb amputation when a local advancement flap is used for closure.No office rate
Used instead
26910Ray amputationFor a more proximal ray amputation that includes the metacarpal.No office rate
26989Unlisted px hands/fingersUnlisted hand or finger procedure code when no specific listed code describes the operation.No office rate

26951 billing questions

How is this code distinguished from 26952?

Use 26951 when the amputation site is closed directly. Code 26952 is for an amputation closed with a local advancement flap.

What documentation supports direct closure?

Document the digit and amputation level, the reason for removal, and how the wound was closed. The note should make clear that closure did not require a local advancement flap.

Can modifier 50 be used for amputations on both hands?

No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply, and modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code.

Are related postoperative visits separately payable?

The 90-day global period includes related postoperative care, as well as the day-before preoperative visit.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be billed?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeon and team-surgery billing are not permitted.

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

The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to 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 26951PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,703 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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