Billing code 28264: Midfoot releaseMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports extensive surgical release of a contracted midfoot joint capsule to improve motion or correct a rigid foot deformity.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities221 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $959.61 for 28264 nationally in the office and $653.66 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $853.31–$1,216.30.

Medicare rate · 28264

Midfoot release

Work RVUs
10.38
Total RVUs
28.73
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$959.61

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 28264 →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
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 28264 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 28264 covers

This code describes an extensive operative release of a contracted midfoot joint capsule. Foot and ankle surgeons may perform it for a rigid deformity or restricted midfoot motion, including in reconstructive treatment of a stiff or deformed foot. The operative report should identify the affected joint or joints, the contracture, and the specific release performed; the procedure is more extensive than a limited midfoot capsular release.

Report the service for the documented extensive midfoot release, not simply because the surgeon operated in the midfoot. The note should establish the extent and structures addressed so the work can be distinguished from a less extensive release or a release at another foot joint. CMS assigns 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% multiple-procedure reduction. For bilateral performance, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; 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 28264 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

$853.31 to $1216.30

$853.31$1034.80$1216.30
One dot per payment locality, office / nonfacility. Hover a dot to see the locality; select it to open that rate.

109 of 109 payment localities

28264 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$865.14$597.43
Alaska*$1,143.10$817.26
Arizona$934.08$637.61
Arkansas$853.31$590.50
Atlanta$981.14$670.30
Austin$985.91$662.21
Bakersfield$996.89$661.57
Baltimore/Surr. Cntys$1,019.37$691.09
Beaumont$905.54$627.13
Brazoria$944.67$641.47

28264 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.

$853.31

$1,143.10

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
28264 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$1,143.101
AL$865.141
AR$853.311
AZ$934.081
CA$991.98–$1,216.3029
CO$986.641
CT$1,021.421
DC$1,083.671
DE$948.841
FL$964.25–$1,070.723
GA$910.75–$981.142
GU$1,011.331
HI$1,011.331
IA$877.581
ID$884.751
IL$943.84–$1,039.644
IN$889.381
KS$877.661
KY$893.081
LA$893.34–$934.712
MA$982.85–$1,075.162
MD$965.00–$1,083.673
ME$893.36–$933.292
MI$918.77–$979.822
MN$935.031
MO$881.50–$933.083
MS$867.361
MT$959.491
NC$901.551
ND$925.281
NE$880.921
NH$975.141
NJ$1,030.15–$1,074.202
NM$925.151
NV$950.511
NY$914.69–$1,136.245
OH$911.771
OK$887.321
OR$940.23–$1,011.982
PA$910.91–$999.762
PR$964.851
RI$978.271
SC$908.751
SD$921.241
TN$882.341
TX$905.54–$985.918
UT$920.411
VA$933.18–$1,083.672
VI$964.851
VT$925.511
WA$979.73–$1,092.382
WI$896.311
WV$911.791
WY$944.581

How the 28264 rate is calculated

Each of 28264’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 · 28264

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Work10.38

10.38 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense16.62

16.62 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice1.73

1.73 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

28.7300

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$959.61

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 28264

28264 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 28264

Midfoot release

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period090Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)2Paid.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.10/0.69/0.21Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 28264

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.

  • 24Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78Unplanned return to the operating room for a related complication
SurgeryVisit
Sep 23, 2026Jan 10, 2027

Pre-op dayGlobal period

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

28264 without 50 · national office

$959.61

Midfoot release

28264-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$1,439.42

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).

When to use modifier 50

28264 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

  • 28264

    Midfoot release10.38 wRVU

    $959.61

  • 28260

    Midfoot release7.99 wRVU

    $758.20−$201.41

  • 28262

    Midfoot release16.78 wRVU

    $1,480.33+$520.72

  • 28270

    Foot contracture release4.81 wRVU

    $488.66−$470.95

How to choose

28260Midfoot release
Both address midfoot capsular release, but 28264 represents the extensive release. Choose the code that matches the operative extent.
28262Midfoot release
This is another related midfoot release code. Compare the specific procedure performed and documented rather than choosing by diagnosis alone.
28270Foot contracture release
28270 concerns release of a foot joint contracture; 28264 is for an extensive midfoot release.

28264 billing questions

How is this different from 28260?

28264 is for an extensive midfoot capsular release. Use 28260 when the documented release is the less extensive midfoot procedure.

What documentation supports the extensive-release level?

The operative report should describe the midfoot contracture, the joint or joints addressed, and the extent of the capsular release. A diagnosis of stiffness alone does not establish the operative extent.

Can the service be reported on both feet?

Yes, when the extensive release is performed bilaterally. CMS identifies modifier 50 for bilateral reporting and pays the procedure at 150%.

How does the multiple-procedure reduction affect this code?

When it is one of multiple procedures in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the other procedures are paid at 50% under the standard multiple-procedure rule.

Is an assistant at surgery payable?

CMS indicates that assistant-at-surgery payment may be made for this service. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

What postoperative care is included?

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
RVUs for 28264PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,164 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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