Billing code 28011: Toe tendon releaseMedicare rate & RVUs
Percutaneous release of multiple tendons in a toe is reported when a surgeon treats a toe contracture by cutting more than one tendon.
Medicare pays $320.65 for 28011 nationally in the office and $264.54 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $290.37–$403.73.
Medicare rate · 28011
Toe tendon release
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 4.17
- Total RVUs
- 9.60
- Global days
- 090
National rate · 2026
$320.65
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 28011 → · 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
What 28011 covers
This service releases more than one tendon in a toe through a percutaneous approach, using small skin openings rather than an open exposure. It may be performed by a podiatric or orthopedic surgeon to address a toe contracture, such as a flexible deformity in which tendon tightness limits toe position. The operative note should identify the treated toe and the tendons released; the code is distinguished from the single-tendon service by the number of tendons treated.
Report the multiple-tendon service when the documented procedure releases multiple tendons, not merely because more than one toe is involved. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, which includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. 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 28011 pays more and less
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
109 payment localities
$290.37 to $403.73
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $293.75 | $244.65 |
| Alaska* | $395.04 | $335.28 |
| Arizona | $313.48 | $259.10 |
| Arkansas | $290.37 | $242.16 |
| Atlanta | $326.50 | $269.49 |
| Austin | $329.09 | $269.72 |
| Bakersfield | $334.04 | $272.54 |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $338.36 | $278.15 |
| Beaumont | $304.59 | $253.52 |
| Brazoria | $317.24 | $261.63 |
| Chicago | $340.20 | $283.80 |
| Chico | $332.76 | $271.26 |
| Colorado | $330.05 | $270.35 |
| Connecticut | $339.22 | $278.79 |
| Dallas | $319.29 | $263.40 |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $359.56 | $293.46 |
| Delaware | $317.95 | $262.51 |
| Detroit | $324.17 | $270.02 |
| East St. Louis | $321.12 | $269.50 |
| El Centro | $332.83 | $271.33 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $333.89 | $277.05 |
| Fort Worth | $317.79 | $262.46 |
| Fresno | $332.76 | $271.26 |
| Galveston | $318.23 | $262.51 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $332.76 | $271.26 |
| Hawaii, Guam | $337.85 | $274.05 |
| Houston | $325.74 | $270.02 |
| Idaho | $300.02 | $248.39 |
| Indiana | $301.37 | $249.35 |
| Iowa | $298.14 | $246.79 |
| Kansas | $297.76 | $247.03 |
| Kentucky | $300.87 | $250.99 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $352.44 | $286.06 |
| Madera | $332.76 | $271.26 |
| Manhattan | $364.75 | $299.55 |
| Merced | $332.76 | $271.26 |
| Metropolitan Boston | $357.38 | $290.38 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $310.11 | $257.42 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $332.67 | $274.26 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $312.63 | $259.21 |
| Miami | $348.46 | $290.05 |
| Minnesota | $315.87 | $258.13 |
| Mississippi | $293.77 | $245.45 |
| Modesto | $332.76 | $271.26 |
| Montana** | $320.62 | $264.51 |
| Napa | $376.01 | $302.05 |
| Nebraska | $299.22 | $247.43 |
| Nevada** | $318.53 | $262.36 |
| New Hampshire | $325.81 | $267.40 |
| New Mexico | $309.48 | $258.03 |
| New Orleans | $312.62 | $259.82 |
| North Carolina | $304.47 | $252.12 |
| North Dakota** | $312.51 | $256.40 |
| Northern Nj | $357.18 | $292.09 |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $372.99 | $306.27 |
| Ohio | $306.17 | $254.94 |
| Oklahoma | $299.65 | $249.54 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $349.90 | $283.58 |
| Portland | $337.98 | $275.64 |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $345.72 | $284.28 |
| Puerto Rico | $322.29 | $265.56 |
| Queens | $366.13 | $299.81 |
| Redding | $332.76 | $271.26 |
| Rest Of California | $332.76 | $271.26 |
| Rest Of Florida | $320.16 | $266.51 |
| Rest Of Georgia | $305.17 | $255.12 |
| Rest Of Illinois | $313.77 | $262.54 |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $300.79 | $251.13 |
| Rest Of Maine | $302.06 | $250.43 |
| Rest Of Maryland | $322.93 | $266.14 |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $328.98 | $269.90 |
| Rest Of Michigan | $307.83 | $256.60 |
| Rest Of Missouri | $297.15 | $248.78 |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $342.97 | $281.70 |
| Rest Of New York | $308.20 | $254.89 |
| Rest Of Oregon | $315.91 | $260.02 |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $306.15 | $254.63 |
| Rest Of Texas | $310.77 | $257.52 |
| Rest Of Washington | $328.07 | $268.99 |
| Rhode Island | $327.35 | $269.38 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $337.24 | $275.74 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $346.64 | $281.38 |
| Salinas | $345.27 | $280.24 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $351.42 | $284.31 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $395.22 | $316.10 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $394.75 | $315.63 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $403.73 | $322.81 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $401.82 | $320.91 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $339.97 | $276.06 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $353.27 | $285.09 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $346.03 | $280.60 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $356.70 | $287.79 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $363.17 | $294.32 |
| South Carolina | $305.85 | $254.00 |
| South Dakota** | $311.56 | $255.44 |
| Southern Maine | $314.09 | $258.48 |
| Stockton | $332.76 | $271.26 |
| Suburban Chicago | $336.72 | $279.09 |
| Tennessee | $299.05 | $248.04 |
| Utah | $309.19 | $256.44 |
| Vallejo | $375.33 | $301.38 |
| Vermont | $312.21 | $256.65 |
| Virgin Islands | $322.29 | $265.56 |
| Virginia | $313.77 | $258.61 |
| Visalia | $332.76 | $271.26 |
| West Virginia | $304.59 | $255.82 |
| Wisconsin | $304.13 | $250.37 |
| Wyoming** | $317.09 | $260.97 |
| Yuba City | $332.76 | $271.26 |
28011 rates by state
Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.
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.
$290.37
$395.04
Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.
View every state and territory as a table
| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $395.04 | 1 |
| AL | $293.75 | 1 |
| AR | $290.37 | 1 |
| AZ | $313.48 | 1 |
| CA | $332.76–$403.73 | 29 |
| CO | $330.05 | 1 |
| CT | $339.22 | 1 |
| DC | $359.56 | 1 |
| DE | $317.95 | 1 |
| FL | $320.16–$348.46 | 3 |
| GA | $305.17–$326.50 | 2 |
| GU | $337.85 | 1 |
| HI | $337.85 | 1 |
| IA | $298.14 | 1 |
| ID | $300.02 | 1 |
| IL | $313.77–$340.20 | 4 |
| IN | $301.37 | 1 |
| KS | $297.76 | 1 |
| KY | $300.87 | 1 |
| LA | $300.79–$312.62 | 2 |
| MA | $328.98–$357.38 | 2 |
| MD | $322.93–$359.56 | 3 |
| ME | $302.06–$314.09 | 2 |
| MI | $307.83–$324.17 | 2 |
| MN | $315.87 | 1 |
| MO | $297.15–$312.63 | 3 |
| MS | $293.77 | 1 |
| MT | $320.62 | 1 |
| NC | $304.47 | 1 |
| ND | $312.51 | 1 |
| NE | $299.22 | 1 |
| NH | $325.81 | 1 |
| NJ | $342.97–$357.18 | 2 |
| NM | $309.48 | 1 |
| NV | $318.53 | 1 |
| NY | $308.20–$372.99 | 5 |
| OH | $306.17 | 1 |
| OK | $299.65 | 1 |
| OR | $315.91–$337.98 | 2 |
| PA | $306.15–$332.67 | 2 |
| PR | $322.29 | 1 |
| RI | $327.35 | 1 |
| SC | $305.85 | 1 |
| SD | $311.56 | 1 |
| TN | $299.05 | 1 |
| TX | $304.59–$329.09 | 8 |
| UT | $309.19 | 1 |
| VA | $313.77–$359.56 | 2 |
| VI | $322.29 | 1 |
| VT | $312.21 | 1 |
| WA | $328.07–$363.17 | 2 |
| WI | $304.13 | 1 |
| WV | $304.59 | 1 |
| WY | $317.09 | 1 |
How the 28011 rate is calculated
Each of 28011’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 · 28011
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 4.17Practice expense 5.02Malpractice 0.41
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 28011
28011 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 28011
Toe tendon release
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.69/0.21 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 28011
Toe tendon 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.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
28011 without 51 · national office
$320.65
Toe tendon release
28011-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$160.33
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%).
28011 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
28011 vs 28010 vs 28270 vs 28285: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 28010Toe tendon release
- Choose 28010 for a percutaneous release of one toe tendon; choose 28011 when multiple tendons are released.
- 28270Foot contracture release
- 28270 describes release at a metatarsophalangeal joint. This code describes percutaneous release of multiple toe tendons.
- 28285Hammertoe repair
- 28285 is a hammertoe correction procedure, rather than a percutaneous multiple-tendon release.
28011 billing questions
How does this differ from 28010?
28011 is for percutaneous release of multiple tendons in a toe. 28010 is the corresponding single-tendon service.
Does treating more than one toe establish multiple tendons?
No. The distinction is the number of tendons released, not simply the number of toes treated. Document the toe and tendons addressed.
Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral treatment?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code. Do not use modifier 50 to report it bilaterally.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during the 90 days after surgery.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are 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
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