Billing code 28222: Tendon releaseMedicare rate & RVUs
Reports surgical freeing of adhesions around one foot extensor tendon when scar tissue restricts tendon glide after injury or prior surgery.
Medicare pays $543.43 for 28222 nationally in the office and $349.04 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $486.15–$702.55.
Medicare rate · 28222
Tendon release
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 5.62
- Total RVUs
- 16.27
- Global days
- 090
National rate · 2026
$543.43
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 28222 → · 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 28222 covers
28222 represents surgical freeing of adhesions that tether one extensor tendon in the foot and limit its movement. An orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon or podiatric surgeon may perform it when scarring after an injury or prior tendon procedure restricts tendon glide. The operative work addresses the adhesions around the tendon; it is not tendon division or tendon repair.
Choose this code for one extensor tendon. Documentation should identify the tendon and foot, describe the adhesions and restricted glide, and record the release performed. The multiple-tendon extensor service is 28226; flexor tendon services are coded separately by tendon type and count. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued is paid in full and others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted; 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 28222 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
$486.15 to $702.55
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $492.57 | $322.47 |
| Alaska* | $649.77 | $442.74 |
| Arizona | $530.07 | $341.70 |
| Arkansas | $486.15 | $319.17 |
| Atlanta | $553.52 | $356.01 |
| Austin | $560.88 | $355.21 |
| Bakersfield | $571.06 | $358.01 |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $575.80 | $367.22 |
| Beaumont | $511.81 | $334.91 |
| Brazoria | $537.36 | $344.72 |
| Chicago | $573.24 | $377.87 |
| Chico | $569.18 | $356.12 |
| Colorado | $562.59 | $355.76 |
| Connecticut | $577.33 | $367.97 |
| Dallas | $540.84 | $347.23 |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $615.54 | $386.55 |
| Delaware | $538.26 | $346.20 |
| Detroit | $545.91 | $358.32 |
| East St. Louis | $537.63 | $358.79 |
| El Centro | $569.28 | $356.22 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $564.52 | $367.60 |
| Fort Worth | $537.76 | $346.09 |
| Fresno | $569.18 | $356.12 |
| Galveston | $539.03 | $345.99 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $569.18 | $356.12 |
| Hawaii, Guam | $580.61 | $359.59 |
| Houston | $550.38 | $357.34 |
| Idaho | $505.72 | $326.88 |
| Indiana | $508.33 | $328.13 |
| Iowa | $502.47 | $324.60 |
| Kansas | $501.00 | $325.27 |
| Kentucky | $504.49 | $331.67 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $605.48 | $375.51 |
| Madera | $569.18 | $356.12 |
| Manhattan | $621.85 | $395.97 |
| Merced | $569.18 | $356.12 |
| Metropolitan Boston | $613.84 | $381.74 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $522.52 | $339.99 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $564.54 | $362.18 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $527.39 | $342.33 |
| Miami | $588.83 | $386.47 |
| Minnesota | $538.57 | $338.54 |
| Mississippi | $491.46 | $324.09 |
| Modesto | $569.18 | $356.12 |
| Montana** | $543.39 | $349.00 |
| Napa | $651.60 | $395.39 |
| Nebraska | $504.76 | $325.33 |
| Nevada** | $540.31 | $345.72 |
| New Hampshire | $554.58 | $352.22 |
| New Mexico | $519.79 | $341.53 |
| New Orleans | $526.48 | $343.56 |
| North Carolina | $513.51 | $332.14 |
| North Dakota** | $531.13 | $336.74 |
| Northern Nj | $610.27 | $384.77 |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $636.51 | $405.38 |
| Ohio | $514.45 | $336.97 |
| Oklahoma | $502.97 | $329.38 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $601.85 | $372.08 |
| Portland | $578.32 | $362.35 |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $588.05 | $375.19 |
| Puerto Rico | $546.81 | $350.28 |
| Queens | $625.57 | $395.80 |
| Redding | $569.18 | $356.12 |
| Rest Of California | $569.18 | $356.12 |
| Rest Of Florida | $539.11 | $353.27 |
| Rest Of Georgia | $511.23 | $337.83 |
| Rest Of Illinois | $525.95 | $348.46 |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $504.04 | $332.00 |
| Rest Of Maine | $508.80 | $329.96 |
| Rest Of Maryland | $547.63 | $350.91 |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $559.99 | $355.29 |
| Rest Of Michigan | $516.96 | $339.48 |
| Rest Of Missouri | $496.66 | $329.10 |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $583.77 | $371.49 |
| Rest Of New York | $520.53 | $335.86 |
| Rest Of Oregon | $535.94 | $342.33 |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $514.82 | $336.37 |
| Rest Of Texas | $524.34 | $339.86 |
| Rest Of Washington | $558.68 | $353.98 |
| Rhode Island | $555.82 | $355.01 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $575.93 | $362.87 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $595.19 | $369.11 |
| Salinas | $592.91 | $367.61 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $605.24 | $372.75 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $687.42 | $413.32 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $686.71 | $412.62 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $702.55 | $422.23 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $699.67 | $419.35 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $583.58 | $362.17 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $609.79 | $373.61 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $594.69 | $368.03 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $615.84 | $377.12 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $625.08 | $386.56 |
| South Carolina | $514.87 | $335.25 |
| South Dakota** | $529.68 | $335.29 |
| Southern Maine | $532.78 | $340.13 |
| Stockton | $569.18 | $356.12 |
| Suburban Chicago | $569.78 | $370.14 |
| Tennessee | $503.36 | $326.66 |
| Utah | $521.22 | $338.49 |
| Vallejo | $650.59 | $394.38 |
| Vermont | $529.85 | $337.40 |
| Virgin Islands | $546.81 | $350.28 |
| Virginia | $531.65 | $340.56 |
| Visalia | $569.18 | $356.12 |
| West Virginia | $508.47 | $339.54 |
| Wisconsin | $515.03 | $328.80 |
| Wyoming** | $538.05 | $343.66 |
| Yuba City | $569.18 | $356.12 |
28222 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.
$486.15
$649.77
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 | $649.77 | 1 |
| AL | $492.57 | 1 |
| AR | $486.15 | 1 |
| AZ | $530.07 | 1 |
| CA | $569.18–$702.55 | 29 |
| CO | $562.59 | 1 |
| CT | $577.33 | 1 |
| DC | $615.54 | 1 |
| DE | $538.26 | 1 |
| FL | $539.11–$588.83 | 3 |
| GA | $511.23–$553.52 | 2 |
| GU | $580.61 | 1 |
| HI | $580.61 | 1 |
| IA | $502.47 | 1 |
| ID | $505.72 | 1 |
| IL | $525.95–$573.24 | 4 |
| IN | $508.33 | 1 |
| KS | $501.00 | 1 |
| KY | $504.49 | 1 |
| LA | $504.04–$526.48 | 2 |
| MA | $559.99–$613.84 | 2 |
| MD | $547.63–$615.54 | 3 |
| ME | $508.80–$532.78 | 2 |
| MI | $516.96–$545.91 | 2 |
| MN | $538.57 | 1 |
| MO | $496.66–$527.39 | 3 |
| MS | $491.46 | 1 |
| MT | $543.39 | 1 |
| NC | $513.51 | 1 |
| ND | $531.13 | 1 |
| NE | $504.76 | 1 |
| NH | $554.58 | 1 |
| NJ | $583.77–$610.27 | 2 |
| NM | $519.79 | 1 |
| NV | $540.31 | 1 |
| NY | $520.53–$636.51 | 5 |
| OH | $514.45 | 1 |
| OK | $502.97 | 1 |
| OR | $535.94–$578.32 | 2 |
| PA | $514.82–$564.54 | 2 |
| PR | $546.81 | 1 |
| RI | $555.82 | 1 |
| SC | $514.87 | 1 |
| SD | $529.68 | 1 |
| TN | $503.36 | 1 |
| TX | $511.81–$560.88 | 8 |
| UT | $521.22 | 1 |
| VA | $531.65–$615.54 | 2 |
| VI | $546.81 | 1 |
| VT | $529.85 | 1 |
| WA | $558.68–$625.08 | 2 |
| WI | $515.03 | 1 |
| WV | $508.47 | 1 |
| WY | $538.05 | 1 |
How the 28222 rate is calculated
Each of 28222’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 · 28222
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 5.62Practice expense 10.03Malpractice 0.62
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 28222
28222 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 28222
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) | 1 | Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount. |
| 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 · 28222
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 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
28222 without 50 · national office
$543.43
Tendon release
28222-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$815.14
Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).
28222 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
28222 vs 28220 vs 28225 vs 28226 vs 28230: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 28220Foot tendon release
- Both describe freeing adhesions from one foot tendon; 28220 is for a flexor tendon, while 28222 is for an extensor tendon.
- 28225Tendon release
- 28225 addresses multiple foot flexor tendons. Use 28222 for one foot extensor tendon.
- 28226Tendon release
- Both address foot extensor tendon adhesions, but 28226 is for multiple tendons and 28222 is for one.
- 28230Tendon incision
- 28230 describes open division of an extensor tendon; 28222 frees adhesions while preserving tendon continuity.
28222 billing questions
When is 28222 appropriate instead of 28226?
Use 28222 when adhesiolysis involves one foot extensor tendon. 28226 is the corresponding service for multiple extensor tendons.
How does this differ from an extensor tenotomy?
28222 frees a tendon from adhesions while preserving tendon continuity. A tenotomy code describes cutting the tendon, not freeing it from scar tissue.
What should the operative note identify?
Document the foot and specific extensor tendon, the adhesions restricting its movement, and the surgical release performed.
Can modifier 50 be used when both feet are treated?
CMS identifies this as a bilateral procedure; reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%.
Is postoperative care separately included in the service?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
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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