Billing code 28002: Foot infection drainageMedicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $242.16 for 28002 nationally in the office and $127.26 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $217.95–$311.46.

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

What 28002 covers

billing code 28002 represents operative drainage of a deep infection in one foot space beneath the superficial fascia; the infection may extend into a tendon sheath. A typical case involves a deep abscess requiring surgical exposure rather than drainage limited to the skin. Podiatric and orthopedic surgeons commonly perform the procedure in an operating room or ambulatory surgery setting; an appropriately equipped office may be used when the case and patient permit.

Choose this code when the operative findings and report support treatment of one infected space. Document the involved foot site, depth, extent of infection, tendon-sheath involvement when present, and the number of areas treated. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. If multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay for 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 28002 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

28002 rates by state

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

How the 28002 rate is calculated

Each of 28002’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 28002

The CMS indicators that decide how 28002 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 51

28002 compared with similar codes

How to choose

28003Foot infection drainage

This is the close sibling for drainage involving multiple areas. Use 28002 when the operative treatment is confined to one deep infected space.

28001Bursa drainage

28001 is directed to drainage of a foot bursa. Choose 28002 when the treated infection is a deep foot space rather than an infected bursa.

10060Abscess drainage

10060 describes drainage of a simple or single superficial abscess. 28002 is for operative drainage of a deep infection beneath the foot fascia.

10061Abscess drainage

10061 is for complicated or multiple superficial abscesses. It does not represent drainage of a deep foot space beneath the fascia.

Codes related to 28002

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