Billing code 28890: Shock wave therapyMedicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $303.95 for 28890 nationally in the office and $205.75 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $273.58–$392.26.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 28890 covers

This procedure delivers focused, high-energy acoustic pulses to the plantar fascia, typically to treat persistent plantar fasciopathy. A physician or other qualified health care professional performs the treatment, generally in an outpatient setting. The service is performed under anesthesia, and ultrasound guidance is included in the code. It is distinct from lower-energy shock wave treatment and from injection or surgical release of the fascia.

Report 28890 for high-energy treatment involving the plantar fascia, not for a different foot structure or a lower-energy protocol. Documentation should identify the treated side and plantar fascia, describe the high-energy treatment and anesthesia, and support the procedure performed. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care for 90 days. 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 multiple procedure reduction. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted; 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 28890 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

28890 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

How the 28890 rate is calculated

Each of 28890’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 28890

28890 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 50

28890 compared with similar codes

How to choose

0101TEsw muscskel sys nos

Choose 28890 for high-energy treatment of the plantar fascia under anesthesia. 0101T is for lower-energy musculoskeletal shock wave treatment without anesthesia.

20550Tendon sheath injection

20550 reports an injection involving the plantar fascia; 28890 reports high-energy extracorporeal shock wave treatment.

28008Fascia release

28008 describes surgical release of the plantar fascia. It is not the shock wave treatment reported with 28890.

28060Plantar fascia surgery

28060 involves partial excision of plantar fascia tissue, whereas 28890 treats the fascia with high-energy shock waves.

Codes related to 28890

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates