Billing code 28202: Tendon repairMedicare rate & RVUs
Reports operative reconstruction of a flexor tendon in the foot using a free graft when direct tendon repair alone is not performed.
Medicare pays $608.56 for 28202 nationally in the office and $406.82 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $546.59–$778.45.
Medicare rate · 28202
Tendon repair
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 6.89
- Total RVUs
- 18.22
- Global days
- 090
National rate · 2026
$608.56
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 28202 → · 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 28202 covers
This service reconstructs a flexor tendon in the foot with a free graft, such as when tendon damage or a chronic rupture leaves a defect that cannot be managed by direct repair alone. An orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon or podiatric surgeon typically performs the operation in a surgical facility. The graft is part of the reported service; this code is distinct from repair of an extensor tendon or flexor tendon repair without a graft.
Select the code when the operative report supports flexor tendon reconstruction using a graft, and document the affected tendon, injury or defect, and reconstructive work. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of 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 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; co-surgeon payment requires 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 28202 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
$546.59 to $778.45
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $553.52 | $377.00 |
| Alaska* | $735.35 | $520.50 |
| Arizona | $594.00 | $398.51 |
| Arkansas | $546.59 | $373.29 |
| Atlanta | $619.94 | $414.97 |
| Austin | $626.67 | $413.22 |
| Bakersfield | $637.07 | $415.96 |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $643.98 | $427.51 |
| Beaumont | $574.98 | $391.40 |
| Brazoria | $601.71 | $401.79 |
| Chicago | $644.38 | $441.63 |
| Chico | $634.78 | $413.67 |
| Colorado | $628.46 | $413.80 |
| Connecticut | $645.64 | $428.36 |
| Dallas | $605.66 | $404.73 |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $686.72 | $449.07 |
| Delaware | $602.94 | $403.62 |
| Detroit | $613.38 | $418.70 |
| East St. Louis | $605.70 | $420.09 |
| El Centro | $634.90 | $413.79 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $633.40 | $429.04 |
| Fort Worth | $602.46 | $403.54 |
| Fresno | $634.78 | $413.67 |
| Galveston | $603.62 | $403.29 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $634.78 | $413.67 |
| Hawaii, Guam | $646.43 | $417.05 |
| Houston | $617.35 | $417.02 |
| Idaho | $567.09 | $381.49 |
| Indiana | $569.89 | $382.88 |
| Iowa | $563.42 | $378.83 |
| Kansas | $562.21 | $379.84 |
| Kentucky | $567.21 | $387.86 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $674.25 | $435.59 |
| Madera | $634.78 | $413.67 |
| Manhattan | $695.22 | $460.80 |
| Merced | $634.78 | $413.67 |
| Metropolitan Boston | $683.80 | $442.92 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $586.43 | $397.00 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $632.03 | $422.02 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $591.65 | $399.59 |
| Miami | $661.36 | $451.34 |
| Minnesota | $601.18 | $393.58 |
| Mississippi | $552.91 | $379.21 |
| Modesto | $634.78 | $413.67 |
| Montana** | $608.51 | $406.77 |
| Napa | $723.11 | $457.22 |
| Nebraska | $565.77 | $379.57 |
| Nevada** | $604.73 | $402.79 |
| New Hampshire | $619.92 | $409.91 |
| New Mexico | $584.27 | $399.27 |
| New Orleans | $591.12 | $401.28 |
| North Carolina | $575.84 | $387.62 |
| North Dakota** | $593.68 | $391.94 |
| Northern Nj | $681.31 | $447.29 |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $711.55 | $471.68 |
| Ohio | $578.02 | $393.83 |
| Oklahoma | $565.17 | $385.01 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $669.88 | $431.42 |
| Portland | $645.06 | $420.92 |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $657.75 | $436.85 |
| Puerto Rico | $612.08 | $408.12 |
| Queens | $698.68 | $460.22 |
| Redding | $634.78 | $413.67 |
| Rest Of California | $634.78 | $413.67 |
| Rest Of Florida | $605.62 | $412.75 |
| Rest Of Georgia | $575.21 | $395.26 |
| Rest Of Illinois | $591.92 | $407.73 |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $566.87 | $388.33 |
| Rest Of Maine | $570.82 | $385.22 |
| Rest Of Maryland | $613.05 | $408.89 |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $625.89 | $413.46 |
| Rest Of Michigan | $581.05 | $396.86 |
| Rest Of Missouri | $559.15 | $385.25 |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $652.71 | $432.41 |
| Rest Of New York | $583.46 | $391.80 |
| Rest Of Oregon | $599.71 | $398.78 |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $578.21 | $393.01 |
| Rest Of Texas | $588.11 | $396.66 |
| Rest Of Washington | $624.30 | $411.86 |
| Rhode Island | $621.89 | $413.49 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $642.95 | $421.84 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $662.83 | $428.20 |
| Salinas | $660.26 | $426.44 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $673.26 | $431.98 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $761.76 | $477.31 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $760.91 | $476.45 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $778.45 | $487.54 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $774.97 | $484.06 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $649.97 | $420.19 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $677.75 | $432.63 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $662.05 | $426.82 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $684.42 | $436.68 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $695.70 | $448.17 |
| South Carolina | $577.95 | $391.54 |
| South Dakota** | $591.93 | $390.19 |
| Southern Maine | $596.14 | $396.21 |
| Stockton | $634.78 | $413.67 |
| Suburban Chicago | $639.06 | $431.87 |
| Tennessee | $564.81 | $381.43 |
| Utah | $584.81 | $395.17 |
| Vallejo | $721.89 | $455.99 |
| Vermont | $592.66 | $392.93 |
| Virgin Islands | $612.08 | $408.12 |
| Virginia | $595.19 | $396.88 |
| Visalia | $634.78 | $413.67 |
| West Virginia | $573.07 | $397.75 |
| Wisconsin | $576.39 | $383.12 |
| Wyoming** | $602.05 | $400.31 |
| Yuba City | $634.78 | $413.67 |
28202 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.
$546.59
$735.35
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 | $735.35 | 1 |
| AL | $553.52 | 1 |
| AR | $546.59 | 1 |
| AZ | $594.00 | 1 |
| CA | $634.78–$778.45 | 29 |
| CO | $628.46 | 1 |
| CT | $645.64 | 1 |
| DC | $686.72 | 1 |
| DE | $602.94 | 1 |
| FL | $605.62–$661.36 | 3 |
| GA | $575.21–$619.94 | 2 |
| GU | $646.43 | 1 |
| HI | $646.43 | 1 |
| IA | $563.42 | 1 |
| ID | $567.09 | 1 |
| IL | $591.92–$644.38 | 4 |
| IN | $569.89 | 1 |
| KS | $562.21 | 1 |
| KY | $567.21 | 1 |
| LA | $566.87–$591.12 | 2 |
| MA | $625.89–$683.80 | 2 |
| MD | $613.05–$686.72 | 3 |
| ME | $570.82–$596.14 | 2 |
| MI | $581.05–$613.38 | 2 |
| MN | $601.18 | 1 |
| MO | $559.15–$591.65 | 3 |
| MS | $552.91 | 1 |
| MT | $608.51 | 1 |
| NC | $575.84 | 1 |
| ND | $593.68 | 1 |
| NE | $565.77 | 1 |
| NH | $619.92 | 1 |
| NJ | $652.71–$681.31 | 2 |
| NM | $584.27 | 1 |
| NV | $604.73 | 1 |
| NY | $583.46–$711.55 | 5 |
| OH | $578.02 | 1 |
| OK | $565.17 | 1 |
| OR | $599.71–$645.06 | 2 |
| PA | $578.21–$632.03 | 2 |
| PR | $612.08 | 1 |
| RI | $621.89 | 1 |
| SC | $577.95 | 1 |
| SD | $591.93 | 1 |
| TN | $564.81 | 1 |
| TX | $574.98–$626.67 | 8 |
| UT | $584.81 | 1 |
| VA | $595.19–$686.72 | 2 |
| VI | $612.08 | 1 |
| VT | $592.66 | 1 |
| WA | $624.30–$695.70 | 2 |
| WI | $576.39 | 1 |
| WV | $573.07 | 1 |
| WY | $602.05 | 1 |
How the 28202 rate is calculated
Each of 28202’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 · 28202
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 6.89Practice expense 10.58Malpractice 0.75
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 28202
28202 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 28202
Tendon repair
| 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) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| 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 · 28202
Tendon repair
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
28202 without 51 · national office
$608.56
Tendon repair
28202-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$304.28
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%).
28202 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
28202 vs 28200 vs 28208 vs 28210: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 28200Foot tendon repair
- Choose 28200 for flexor tendon repair without a free graft. Choose 28202 when reconstruction uses a free graft.
- 28208Tendon repair
- 28208 concerns an extensor tendon repaired without a free graft. 28202 concerns flexor tendon reconstruction using a graft.
- 28210Tendon repair
- Both involve a free graft, but 28210 is for an extensor tendon; 28202 is for a flexor tendon.
28202 billing questions
How is 28202 different from 28200?
28202 is for flexor tendon reconstruction with a free graft. 28200 describes flexor tendon repair without a free graft.
Can the graft be billed separately?
The graft is included in the service described by 28202. The operative documentation should support the graft-based reconstruction.
Is modifier 50 appropriate when both feet are treated?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code. Do not use modifier 50 to report bilateral treatment.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is 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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