Billing code 28296: Bunion correctionMedicare rate & RVUs
Reports surgical correction of a bunion when the surgeon cuts and repositions the distal first metatarsal to realign the great toe.
Medicare pays $883.45 for 28296 nationally in the office and $484.31 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $787.33–$1,159.97.
Medicare rate · 28296
Bunion correction
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 8.04
- Total RVUs
- 26.45
- Global days
- 090
National rate · 2026
$883.45
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 28296 → · 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 28296 covers
Code 28296 covers hallux valgus correction centered on an osteotomy near the head of the first metatarsal. An Austin or chevron bunionectomy is a familiar example. An orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon or podiatric surgeon typically performs the operation in a hospital outpatient department or ambulatory surgery center. The surgeon repositions the bone to improve great-toe alignment and may perform associated soft-tissue work as part of the correction.
Select 28296 when the operative report documents a distal first metatarsal osteotomy for the bunion correction. The report should identify the side, osteotomy location, bone repositioning, and any additional osteotomy. A proximal metatarsal osteotomy, joint fusion, or double osteotomy points to another code. CMS assigns a 90-day global period that includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, CMS pays the highest-valued procedure in full and others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons require supporting documentation. 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 28296 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
$787.33 to $1159.97
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $798.13 | $448.88 |
| Alaska* | $1,043.62 | $618.53 |
| Arizona | $861.30 | $474.53 |
| Arkansas | $787.33 | $444.47 |
| Atlanta | $899.16 | $493.64 |
| Austin | $914.94 | $492.65 |
| Bakersfield | $934.25 | $496.79 |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $937.13 | $508.85 |
| Beaumont | $828.63 | $465.41 |
| Brazoria | $874.29 | $478.74 |
| Chicago | $923.74 | $522.60 |
| Chico | $931.71 | $494.25 |
| Colorado | $918.28 | $493.59 |
| Connecticut | $939.82 | $509.94 |
| Dallas | $879.63 | $482.09 |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $1,005.63 | $535.44 |
| Delaware | $874.98 | $480.63 |
| Detroit | $881.68 | $496.51 |
| East St. Louis | $864.22 | $497.01 |
| El Centro | $931.85 | $494.39 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $913.22 | $508.89 |
| Fort Worth | $874.11 | $480.56 |
| Fresno | $931.71 | $494.25 |
| Galveston | $876.78 | $480.43 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $931.71 | $494.25 |
| Hawaii, Guam | $952.41 | $498.59 |
| Houston | $891.79 | $495.44 |
| Idaho | $822.02 | $454.81 |
| Indiana | $826.49 | $456.48 |
| Iowa | $817.00 | $451.79 |
| Kansas | $813.47 | $452.64 |
| Kentucky | $815.91 | $461.07 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $992.78 | $520.59 |
| Madera | $931.71 | $494.25 |
| Manhattan | $1,011.87 | $548.07 |
| Merced | $931.71 | $494.25 |
| Metropolitan Boston | $1,005.43 | $528.86 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $846.99 | $472.19 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $917.66 | $502.16 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $855.31 | $475.33 |
| Miami | $949.42 | $533.91 |
| Minnesota | $881.21 | $470.49 |
| Mississippi | $794.64 | $450.98 |
| Modesto | $931.71 | $494.25 |
| Montana** | $883.40 | $484.26 |
| Napa | $1,073.73 | $547.66 |
| Nebraska | $821.18 | $452.77 |
| Nevada** | $879.47 | $479.93 |
| New Hampshire | $904.12 | $488.61 |
| New Mexico | $840.19 | $474.18 |
| New Orleans | $852.51 | $476.92 |
| North Carolina | $834.20 | $461.80 |
| North Dakota** | $867.18 | $468.04 |
| Northern Nj | $996.24 | $533.23 |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $1,035.15 | $560.58 |
| Ohio | $832.56 | $468.14 |
| Oklahoma | $814.48 | $458.05 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $987.58 | $515.79 |
| Portland | $945.95 | $502.51 |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $957.10 | $520.05 |
| Puerto Rico | $889.51 | $485.97 |
| Queens | $1,019.68 | $547.89 |
| Redding | $931.71 | $494.25 |
| Rest Of California | $931.71 | $494.25 |
| Rest Of Florida | $871.38 | $489.80 |
| Rest Of Georgia | $825.26 | $469.23 |
| Rest Of Illinois | $847.76 | $483.34 |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $814.74 | $461.50 |
| Rest Of Maine | $826.10 | $458.89 |
| Rest Of Maryland | $890.94 | $487.01 |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $913.33 | $493.03 |
| Rest Of Michigan | $835.87 | $471.46 |
| Rest Of Missouri | $801.66 | $457.60 |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $950.90 | $515.04 |
| Rest Of New York | $845.94 | $466.76 |
| Rest Of Oregon | $872.97 | $475.43 |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $833.77 | $467.36 |
| Rest Of Texas | $850.83 | $472.05 |
| Rest Of Washington | $911.54 | $491.24 |
| Rhode Island | $904.99 | $492.67 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $940.66 | $503.21 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $976.18 | $511.98 |
| Salinas | $972.49 | $509.88 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $994.12 | $516.75 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $1,135.03 | $572.24 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $1,134.10 | $571.31 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $1,159.97 | $584.41 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $1,156.16 | $580.60 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $956.98 | $502.35 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $1,002.70 | $517.75 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $975.79 | $510.40 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $1,012.76 | $522.61 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $1,025.24 | $535.49 |
| South Carolina | $834.69 | $465.89 |
| South Dakota** | $865.27 | $466.13 |
| Southern Maine | $868.06 | $472.51 |
| Stockton | $931.71 | $494.25 |
| Suburban Chicago | $922.34 | $512.42 |
| Tennessee | $817.31 | $454.49 |
| Utah | $845.41 | $470.22 |
| Vallejo | $1,072.39 | $546.32 |
| Vermont | $864.05 | $468.90 |
| Virgin Islands | $889.51 | $485.97 |
| Virginia | $865.41 | $473.06 |
| Visalia | $931.71 | $494.25 |
| West Virginia | $818.29 | $471.44 |
| Wisconsin | $839.82 | $457.45 |
| Wyoming** | $876.33 | $477.19 |
| Yuba City | $931.71 | $494.25 |
28296 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.
$787.33
$1,045.84
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 | $1,043.62 | 1 |
| AL | $798.13 | 1 |
| AR | $787.33 | 1 |
| AZ | $861.30 | 1 |
| CA | $931.71–$1,159.97 | 29 |
| CO | $918.28 | 1 |
| CT | $939.82 | 1 |
| DC | $1,005.63 | 1 |
| DE | $874.98 | 1 |
| FL | $871.38–$949.42 | 3 |
| GA | $825.26–$899.16 | 2 |
| GU | $952.41 | 1 |
| HI | $952.41 | 1 |
| IA | $817.00 | 1 |
| ID | $822.02 | 1 |
| IL | $847.76–$923.74 | 4 |
| IN | $826.49 | 1 |
| KS | $813.47 | 1 |
| KY | $815.91 | 1 |
| LA | $814.74–$852.51 | 2 |
| MA | $913.33–$1,005.43 | 2 |
| MD | $890.94–$1,005.63 | 3 |
| ME | $826.10–$868.06 | 2 |
| MI | $835.87–$881.68 | 2 |
| MN | $881.21 | 1 |
| MO | $801.66–$855.31 | 3 |
| MS | $794.64 | 1 |
| MT | $883.40 | 1 |
| NC | $834.20 | 1 |
| ND | $867.18 | 1 |
| NE | $821.18 | 1 |
| NH | $904.12 | 1 |
| NJ | $950.90–$996.24 | 2 |
| NM | $840.19 | 1 |
| NV | $879.47 | 1 |
| NY | $845.94–$1,035.15 | 5 |
| OH | $832.56 | 1 |
| OK | $814.48 | 1 |
| OR | $872.97–$945.95 | 2 |
| PA | $833.77–$917.66 | 2 |
| PR | $889.51 | 1 |
| RI | $904.99 | 1 |
| SC | $834.69 | 1 |
| SD | $865.27 | 1 |
| TN | $817.31 | 1 |
| TX | $828.63–$914.94 | 8 |
| UT | $845.41 | 1 |
| VA | $865.41–$1,005.63 | 2 |
| VI | $889.51 | 1 |
| VT | $864.05 | 1 |
| WA | $911.54–$1,025.24 | 2 |
| WI | $839.82 | 1 |
| WV | $818.29 | 1 |
| WY | $876.33 | 1 |
How the 28296 rate is calculated
Each of 28296’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 · 28296
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 8.04Practice expense 17.59Malpractice 0.82
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 28296
28296 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 28296
Bunion correction
| 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 · 28296
Bunion correction
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
28296 without 50 · national office
$883.45
Bunion correction
28296-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,325.18
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).
28296 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
28296 vs 28295 vs 28299 vs 28297 vs 28298: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 28295Bunion correction
- Use 28296 for an osteotomy near the first metatarsal head; 28295 describes correction with an osteotomy at the proximal first metatarsal.
- 28299Bunion correction
- Code 28296 represents a single distal metatarsal osteotomy. Code 28299 identifies hallux valgus correction with two osteotomies.
- 28297Bunion correction
- Code 28297 involves joint fusion to correct hallux valgus. Code 28296 repositions the distal first metatarsal through an osteotomy.
- 28298Bunion correction
- Code 28298 identifies correction using a proximal phalanx osteotomy; 28296 identifies a distal first metatarsal osteotomy.
28296 billing questions
How is 28296 distinguished from 28295?
Both involve first metatarsal osteotomy for hallux valgus, but 28296 identifies an osteotomy at the distal metatarsal; 28295 identifies one at the proximal metatarsal.
What if the surgeon also performs a proximal phalanx osteotomy?
Review the operative report for a double osteotomy. Code 28299 describes hallux valgus correction using two osteotomies, rather than the single distal metatarsal osteotomy represented by 28296.
Is removal of the bunion prominence separately reported?
When removal of the medial prominence is part of the distal metatarsal osteotomy correction, it is included in 28296 rather than reported as a separate bunion procedure.
How is surgery on both feet reported?
CMS recognizes bilateral reporting of 28296 with modifier 50 and pays it at 150%. The operative report should document the distal metatarsal correction on each foot.
What postoperative visits are included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care for the bunion correction.
Can another surgeon participate in the operation?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; CMS does not permit team surgery for 28296.
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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