Billing code 28260: Midfoot releaseMedicare rate & RVUs
Surgical release of a contracted midfoot joint capsule, sometimes with tendon lengthening, to address restricted motion or a fixed foot deformity.
Medicare pays $758.20 for 28260 nationally in the office and $509.03 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $674.68–$967.20.
Medicare rate · 28260
Midfoot release
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 7.99
- Total RVUs
- 22.70
- Global days
- 090
National rate · 2026
$758.20
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 28260 → · 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 28260 covers
This operation releases a contracted capsule at a midfoot joint to improve joint motion or correct a fixed deformity. Tendon lengthening may be part of the correction. It is typically performed by an orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon or podiatric surgeon in an operating room, with the operative report identifying the affected joint and the structures released.
Report 28260 when the documented work is a midfoot joint release; describe the contracture, operative extent, and any tendon lengthening performed. The service has a 90-day global period, including 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% reduction. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery services may be paid; 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 28260 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
$674.68 to $967.20
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $683.99 | $465.96 |
| Alaska* | $902.28 | $636.92 |
| Arizona | $738.29 | $496.84 |
| Arkansas | $674.68 | $460.64 |
| Atlanta | $774.52 | $521.37 |
| Austin | $780.11 | $516.48 |
| Bakersfield | $790.27 | $517.18 |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $805.13 | $537.77 |
| Beaumont | $714.77 | $488.02 |
| Brazoria | $747.17 | $500.25 |
| Chicago | $815.95 | $565.54 |
| Chico | $786.71 | $513.62 |
| Colorado | $781.13 | $516.01 |
| Connecticut | $806.88 | $538.52 |
| Dallas | $752.92 | $504.75 |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $857.38 | $563.85 |
| Delaware | $749.95 | $503.77 |
| Detroit | $770.87 | $530.42 |
| East St. Louis | $764.20 | $534.97 |
| El Centro | $786.92 | $513.83 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $797.51 | $545.10 |
| Fort Worth | $748.96 | $503.28 |
| Fresno | $786.71 | $513.62 |
| Galveston | $750.06 | $502.64 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $786.71 | $513.62 |
| Hawaii, Guam | $802.40 | $519.09 |
| Houston | $772.76 | $525.33 |
| Idaho | $700.38 | $471.14 |
| Indiana | $704.07 | $473.09 |
| Iowa | $694.98 | $466.99 |
| Kansas | $694.47 | $469.22 |
| Kentucky | $704.74 | $483.23 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $837.56 | $542.79 |
| Madera | $786.71 | $513.62 |
| Manhattan | $872.44 | $582.90 |
| Merced | $786.71 | $513.62 |
| Metropolitan Boston | $851.87 | $554.36 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $729.80 | $495.83 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $789.44 | $530.06 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $736.69 | $499.48 |
| Miami | $839.97 | $580.59 |
| Minnesota | $742.09 | $485.69 |
| Mississippi | $684.85 | $470.32 |
| Modesto | $786.71 | $513.62 |
| Montana** | $758.12 | $508.95 |
| Napa | $897.71 | $569.30 |
| Nebraska | $697.80 | $467.81 |
| Nevada** | $751.73 | $502.31 |
| New Hampshire | $771.47 | $512.08 |
| New Mexico | $729.18 | $500.69 |
| New Orleans | $737.29 | $502.82 |
| North Carolina | $713.10 | $480.63 |
| North Dakota** | $733.60 | $484.43 |
| Northern Nj | $849.82 | $560.78 |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $895.81 | $599.54 |
| Ohio | $719.39 | $491.90 |
| Oklahoma | $700.82 | $478.31 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $831.94 | $537.42 |
| Portland | $801.81 | $524.98 |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $821.65 | $548.81 |
| Puerto Rico | $762.53 | $510.62 |
| Queens | $875.47 | $580.95 |
| Redding | $786.71 | $513.62 |
| Rest Of California | $786.71 | $513.62 |
| Rest Of Florida | $759.24 | $521.03 |
| Rest Of Georgia | $717.56 | $495.30 |
| Rest Of Illinois | $742.38 | $514.88 |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $704.72 | $484.21 |
| Rest Of Maine | $706.55 | $477.31 |
| Rest Of Maryland | $762.87 | $510.71 |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $777.91 | $515.53 |
| Rest Of Michigan | $724.40 | $496.91 |
| Rest Of Missouri | $695.04 | $480.25 |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $814.28 | $542.19 |
| Rest Of New York | $723.40 | $486.69 |
| Rest Of Oregon | $744.10 | $495.93 |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $719.03 | $490.29 |
| Rest Of Texas | $731.24 | $494.77 |
| Rest Of Washington | $775.62 | $513.24 |
| Rhode Island | $773.65 | $516.25 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $800.11 | $527.02 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $821.93 | $532.14 |
| Salinas | $818.79 | $530.00 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $835.42 | $537.41 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $945.61 | $594.28 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $944.20 | $592.87 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $967.20 | $607.90 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $961.44 | $602.14 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $806.06 | $522.25 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $841.32 | $538.58 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $821.14 | $530.61 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $849.57 | $543.59 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $866.09 | $560.36 |
| South Carolina | $717.79 | $487.56 |
| South Dakota** | $730.70 | $481.53 |
| Southern Maine | $738.87 | $491.94 |
| Stockton | $786.71 | $513.62 |
| Suburban Chicago | $804.19 | $548.29 |
| Tennessee | $698.08 | $471.59 |
| Utah | $726.98 | $492.76 |
| Vallejo | $895.68 | $567.27 |
| Vermont | $733.24 | $486.56 |
| Virgin Islands | $762.53 | $510.62 |
| Virginia | $738.38 | $493.44 |
| Visalia | $786.71 | $513.62 |
| West Virginia | $717.11 | $500.58 |
| Wisconsin | $710.64 | $471.94 |
| Wyoming** | $747.43 | $498.26 |
| Yuba City | $786.71 | $513.62 |
28260 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.
$674.68
$902.28
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 | $902.28 | 1 |
| AL | $683.99 | 1 |
| AR | $674.68 | 1 |
| AZ | $738.29 | 1 |
| CA | $786.71–$967.20 | 29 |
| CO | $781.13 | 1 |
| CT | $806.88 | 1 |
| DC | $857.38 | 1 |
| DE | $749.95 | 1 |
| FL | $759.24–$839.97 | 3 |
| GA | $717.56–$774.52 | 2 |
| GU | $802.40 | 1 |
| HI | $802.40 | 1 |
| IA | $694.98 | 1 |
| ID | $700.38 | 1 |
| IL | $742.38–$815.95 | 4 |
| IN | $704.07 | 1 |
| KS | $694.47 | 1 |
| KY | $704.74 | 1 |
| LA | $704.72–$737.29 | 2 |
| MA | $777.91–$851.87 | 2 |
| MD | $762.87–$857.38 | 3 |
| ME | $706.55–$738.87 | 2 |
| MI | $724.40–$770.87 | 2 |
| MN | $742.09 | 1 |
| MO | $695.04–$736.69 | 3 |
| MS | $684.85 | 1 |
| MT | $758.12 | 1 |
| NC | $713.10 | 1 |
| ND | $733.60 | 1 |
| NE | $697.80 | 1 |
| NH | $771.47 | 1 |
| NJ | $814.28–$849.82 | 2 |
| NM | $729.18 | 1 |
| NV | $751.73 | 1 |
| NY | $723.40–$895.81 | 5 |
| OH | $719.39 | 1 |
| OK | $700.82 | 1 |
| OR | $744.10–$801.81 | 2 |
| PA | $719.03–$789.44 | 2 |
| PR | $762.53 | 1 |
| RI | $773.65 | 1 |
| SC | $717.79 | 1 |
| SD | $730.70 | 1 |
| TN | $698.08 | 1 |
| TX | $714.77–$780.11 | 8 |
| UT | $726.98 | 1 |
| VA | $738.38–$857.38 | 2 |
| VI | $762.53 | 1 |
| VT | $733.24 | 1 |
| WA | $775.62–$866.09 | 2 |
| WI | $710.64 | 1 |
| WV | $717.11 | 1 |
| WY | $747.43 | 1 |
How the 28260 rate is calculated
Each of 28260’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 · 28260
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 7.99Practice expense 13.47Malpractice 1.24
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 28260
28260 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 28260
Midfoot 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) | 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 · 28260
Midfoot 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
28260 without 50 · national office
$758.20
Midfoot release
28260-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,137.30
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).
28260 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
28260 vs 28264 vs 28270 vs 28272 vs 28222: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 28264Midfoot release
- Both codes describe midfoot joint release services. Distinguish them by the operative extent and specific release documented; do not select solely by the diagnosis.
- 28270Foot contracture release
- 28270 concerns release of a foot contracture; 28260 is specific to a midfoot joint release. The operative target and work determine the choice.
- 28272Toe joint release
- 28272 is for release at a toe joint, while 28260 addresses a midfoot joint. Use the documented joint location to distinguish them.
- 28222Tendon release
- 28222 describes tendon-directed release work. Choose 28260 when the operative service releases a contracted midfoot joint capsule.
28260 billing questions
How does 28260 differ from 28264?
Both concern release of a midfoot joint. Choose the code that matches the documented extent and specific operative work; 28264 represents a distinct midfoot release level.
When is 28260 preferable to a foot tendon-release code?
Use 28260 when the operative target is the midfoot joint capsule. A tendon-release code describes tendon-directed work rather than release of the joint capsule.
Can tendon lengthening be part of 28260?
Yes. Tendon lengthening may accompany the midfoot capsular release as part of correcting the contracture; document the tendon and work performed.
How should bilateral midfoot releases be reported?
Report the bilateral procedure with modifier 50. CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
What documentation supports assistant or co-surgeon payment?
Assistant-at-surgery services may be paid. 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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