Billing code 28122: Tarsal bone excisionMedicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $599.21 for 28122 nationally in the office and $416.51 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $537.14–$768.29.

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

What 28122 covers

A foot and ankle surgeon, commonly an orthopedic surgeon or podiatrist, reports this procedure when completely excising a tarsal bone other than the talus or calcaneus. Examples include a cuboid or cuneiform. The operation may address a symptomatic bony prominence, deformity, arthritic change, or other bone pathology. The operative report should identify the bone removed and describe complete excision rather than a limited shaving or partial resection.

Select this code by the bone and extent of removal: it is for complete excision of another tarsal bone, not partial excision of the talus or calcaneus. Document the clinical indication, operative findings, and extent of bone removal. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons require supporting documentation, and team surgery is 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 28122 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

28122 rates by state

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

How the 28122 rate is calculated

Each of 28122’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 28122

28122 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 50

28122 compared with similar codes

How to choose

28120Bone excision

Use 28120 for partial excision of the talus or calcaneus. Use 28122 for complete excision of another tarsal bone, such as a cuboid or cuneiform.

28118Heel bone resection

28118 is specific to ostectomy of the calcaneus. 28122 concerns complete excision of another tarsal bone.

28110Metatarsal resection

28110 covers partial excision of the fifth metatarsal head. 28122 is for complete excision of another tarsal bone, not a metatarsal.

Codes related to 28122

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