Use 26483 for the corresponding dorsal hand or carpometacarpal tendon procedure when a free graft is used. This code applies when no free graft is used.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
26480 in Modesto
Office / nonfacility
Not available in this setting
Base rate per service
Facility setting
$677.93
Base rate per service
Amounts below use the non-QP conversion factor for participating physicians. These are base physician payments before claim-level adjustments, not patient costs or total hospital charges.
Hand surgery
About 26480: Dorsal hand tendon transfer without graft
Reports rerouting a tendon in the dorsal hand or carpometacarpal region without a free graft to restore or redirect hand function.
A hand surgeon reroutes or transplants a tendon in the carpometacarpal region or on the back of the hand, without using a free tendon graft. The procedure can redirect the pull of a functioning tendon to improve movement affected by tendon imbalance, injury, or loss of nerve function. It is typically performed in an operating room by an orthopedic or plastic surgeon specializing in hand surgery.
Report the service for the tendon transfer or transplant in this location and document the operative anatomy, tendon moved, new attachment or route, and absence of a free graft. The related code for the same region with a free graft is 26483; palm or finger procedures belong to different codes. This major surgery includes 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 reduced. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
CMS billing rules for 26480
- Global period
- Major surgery with a 90-day global period: the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included.
- Multiple procedures
- Standard multiple procedure reduction: the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50% when performed in the same session.
- Bilateral procedures
- Bilateral adjustment does not apply; the descriptor or anatomy makes modifier 50 inappropriate.
- Assistant at surgery
- Assistant at surgery is paid only with documentation of medical necessity.
- Co-surgeons
- Co-surgeons not permitted.
- Team surgery
- Team surgery not permitted.
Where the value comes from
- Work RVU8.78 · 44%
- Practice expense (office) RVU9.56 · 48%
- Malpractice RVU1.66 · 8%
19.8K
Medicare services in 2024 · #1154 by national volume
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.
26480 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Modesto, from the same CMS release.
The site distinguishes the codes: 26485 covers palm or finger tendon work without a free graft, while this code covers the carpometacarpal region or back of the hand.
26437 describes tendon realignment. This code is for relocating or transplanting a tendon to redirect its function.
The same code, a different location
How does Modesto compare?
26480 across payment areas
Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0
Modesto · This locality
Unavailable
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Other payment areas listed in California appear first, followed by selected cross-country examples. The chart compares amounts, not distance.
The code’s RVUs stay the same in these comparisons. Geographic adjustments to work, practice expense and malpractice change the dollar amount. A city name alone may not identify the payment area for a service address.
Compare all 108 other payment areas
Madera
California · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$677.93
No comparable office rate is available.
Merced
California · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$677.93
No comparable office rate is available.
Napa
California · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$760.76
No comparable office rate is available.
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura
California · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$713.44
No comparable office rate is available.
Redding
California · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$677.93
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of California
California · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$677.93
No comparable office rate is available.
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
California · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$695.80
No comparable office rate is available.
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
California · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$704.90
No comparable office rate is available.
Salinas
California · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$702.15
No comparable office rate is available.
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
California · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$714.01
No comparable office rate is available.
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)
California · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$796.80
No comparable office rate is available.
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty)
California · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$794.91
No comparable office rate is available.
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty)
California · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$815.69
No comparable office rate is available.
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty)
California · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$807.98
No comparable office rate is available.
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
California · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$691.66
No comparable office rate is available.
Santa Cruz-Watsonville
California · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$717.10
No comparable office rate is available.
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
California · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$703.51
No comparable office rate is available.
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
California · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$723.89
No comparable office rate is available.
Stockton
California · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$677.93
No comparable office rate is available.
Vallejo
California · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$758.04
No comparable office rate is available.
Visalia
California · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$677.93
No comparable office rate is available.
Yuba City
California · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$677.93
No comparable office rate is available.
Dc + Md/Va Suburbs
District of Columbia · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$746.96
No comparable office rate is available.
Miami
Florida · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$765.89
No comparable office rate is available.
Chicago
Illinois · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$743.47
No comparable office rate is available.
Manhattan
New York · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$771.01
No comparable office rate is available.
Alaska*
Alaska · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$810.51
No comparable office rate is available.
Alabama
Alabama · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$604.04
No comparable office rate is available.
Arkansas
Arkansas · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$596.10
No comparable office rate is available.
Arizona
Arizona · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$650.14
No comparable office rate is available.
Colorado
Colorado · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$679.83
No comparable office rate is available.
Connecticut
Connecticut · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$710.11
No comparable office rate is available.
Delaware
Delaware · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$660.05
No comparable office rate is available.
Fort Lauderdale
Florida · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$716.97
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Florida
Florida · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$681.86
No comparable office rate is available.
Atlanta
Georgia · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$685.15
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Georgia
Georgia · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$644.18
No comparable office rate is available.
Hawaii, Guam
Hawaii · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$688.42
No comparable office rate is available.
Iowa
Iowa · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$607.44
No comparable office rate is available.
Idaho
Idaho · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$613.25
No comparable office rate is available.
East St. Louis
Illinois · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$698.69
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Illinois
Illinois · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$671.45
No comparable office rate is available.
Suburban Chicago
Illinois · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$721.50
No comparable office rate is available.
Indiana
Indiana · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$616.21
No comparable office rate is available.
Kansas
Kansas · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$609.86
No comparable office rate is available.
Kentucky
Kentucky · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$627.86
No comparable office rate is available.
New Orleans
Louisiana · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$656.72
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Louisiana
Louisiana · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$628.97
No comparable office rate is available.
Metropolitan Boston
Massachusetts · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$735.89
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Massachusetts
Massachusetts · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$678.38
No comparable office rate is available.
Baltimore/Surr. Cntys
Maryland · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$709.16
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Maryland
Maryland · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$670.24
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Maine
Maine · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$621.51
No comparable office rate is available.
Southern Maine
Maine · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$644.68
No comparable office rate is available.
Detroit
Michigan · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$694.88
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Michigan
Michigan · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$647.39
No comparable office rate is available.
Minnesota
Minnesota · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$638.24
No comparable office rate is available.
Metropolitan Kansas City
Missouri · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$647.26
No comparable office rate is available.
Metropolitan St. Louis
Missouri · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$652.80
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Missouri
Missouri · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$622.51
No comparable office rate is available.
Mississippi
Mississippi · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$609.16
No comparable office rate is available.
Montana**
Montana · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$667.91
No comparable office rate is available.
North Carolina
North Carolina · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$626.61
No comparable office rate is available.
North Dakota**
North Dakota · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$635.08
No comparable office rate is available.
Nebraska
Nebraska · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$608.94
No comparable office rate is available.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$674.18
No comparable office rate is available.
Northern Nj
New Jersey · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$741.35
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of New Jersey
New Jersey · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$714.50
No comparable office rate is available.
New Mexico
New Mexico · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$652.66
No comparable office rate is available.
Nevada**
Nevada · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$659.08
No comparable office rate is available.
Nyc Suburbs/Long Island
New York · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$794.65
No comparable office rate is available.
Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs
New York · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$723.19
No comparable office rate is available.
Queens
New York · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$769.41
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of New York
New York · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$635.59
No comparable office rate is available.
Ohio
Ohio · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$640.68
No comparable office rate is available.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$621.49
No comparable office rate is available.
Portland
Oregon · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$693.96
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Oregon
Oregon · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$650.27
No comparable office rate is available.
Metropolitan Philadelphia
Pennsylvania · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$697.09
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$638.78
No comparable office rate is available.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$670.70
No comparable office rate is available.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$678.14
No comparable office rate is available.
South Carolina
South Carolina · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$635.43
No comparable office rate is available.
South Dakota**
South Dakota · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$631.20
No comparable office rate is available.
Tennessee
Tennessee · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$613.29
No comparable office rate is available.
Austin
Texas · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$680.80
No comparable office rate is available.
Beaumont
Texas · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$635.34
No comparable office rate is available.
Brazoria
Texas · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$655.29
No comparable office rate is available.
Dallas
Texas · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$661.51
No comparable office rate is available.
Fort Worth
Texas · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$659.03
No comparable office rate is available.
Galveston
Texas · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$658.59
No comparable office rate is available.
Houston
Texas · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$688.98
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Texas
Texas · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$646.35
No comparable office rate is available.
Utah
Utah · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$643.20
No comparable office rate is available.
Virginia
Virginia · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$646.29
No comparable office rate is available.
Virgin Islands
United States Virgin Islands · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$670.70
No comparable office rate is available.
Vermont
Vermont · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$637.43
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Washington
Washington · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$675.50
No comparable office rate is available.
Seattle (King Cnty)
Washington · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$745.02
No comparable office rate is available.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$616.24
No comparable office rate is available.
West Virginia
West Virginia · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$650.09
No comparable office rate is available.
Wyoming**
Wyoming · 26480
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$653.60
No comparable office rate is available.
See how rates vary across the country
26480 · Office / nonfacility · Non-QP. Choose a state to explore its payment localities. A range means the amount varies within that state.
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.
View all state and territory rates as a table
| State / territory | Rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | No published base rate | 1 |
| AL | No published base rate | 1 |
| AR | No published base rate | 1 |
| AZ | No published base rate | 1 |
| CA | No published base rate | 29 |
| CO | No published base rate | 1 |
| CT | No published base rate | 1 |
| DC | No published base rate | 1 |
| DE | No published base rate | 1 |
| FL | No published base rate | 3 |
| GA | No published base rate | 2 |
| GU | No published base rate | 1 |
| HI | No published base rate | 1 |
| IA | No published base rate | 1 |
| ID | No published base rate | 1 |
| IL | No published base rate | 4 |
| IN | No published base rate | 1 |
| KS | No published base rate | 1 |
| KY | No published base rate | 1 |
| LA | No published base rate | 2 |
| MA | No published base rate | 2 |
| MD | No published base rate | 3 |
| ME | No published base rate | 2 |
| MI | No published base rate | 2 |
| MN | No published base rate | 1 |
| MO | No published base rate | 3 |
| MS | No published base rate | 1 |
| MT | No published base rate | 1 |
| NC | No published base rate | 1 |
| ND | No published base rate | 1 |
| NE | No published base rate | 1 |
| NH | No published base rate | 1 |
| NJ | No published base rate | 2 |
| NM | No published base rate | 1 |
| NV | No published base rate | 1 |
| NY | No published base rate | 5 |
| OH | No published base rate | 1 |
| OK | No published base rate | 1 |
| OR | No published base rate | 2 |
| PA | No published base rate | 2 |
| PR | No published base rate | 1 |
| RI | No published base rate | 1 |
| SC | No published base rate | 1 |
| SD | No published base rate | 1 |
| TN | No published base rate | 1 |
| TX | No published base rate | 8 |
| UT | No published base rate | 1 |
| VA | No published base rate | 2 |
| VI | No published base rate | 1 |
| VT | No published base rate | 1 |
| WA | No published base rate | 2 |
| WI | No published base rate | 1 |
| WV | No published base rate | 1 |
| WY | No published base rate | 1 |
Where does this rate apply?
Modesto is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 33 cities and communities in California, including the examples shown here.
Some communities span more than one payment area. Follow a city link to compare all of its mapped areas, or check the service-location ZIP above for an address-level starting point.
Use this rate
What is a percentage of Medicare worth?
Turn a percentage into dollars for 26480 in Modesto. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.
Reference amount per service
$745.72
$677.93 × 110% = $745.72
A contract may specify another Medicare year or additional adjustments. This is percentage arithmetic on the displayed base rate, not a claim adjudication.
Working with a whole code list?
Compare an offer across your annual code mix, including an older Medicare schedule or flat per-code rates.
How this local rate is calculated
Each RVU component is multiplied by its own geographic practice cost index (GPCI). The three adjusted components are added, then multiplied by the conversion factor. These are the inputs used for 26480 in Modesto.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
2,610
- Code
- 26480
- Physician work
- 8.78
- Practice expense
- 9.56
- Malpractice
- 1.66
GPCI2026.csv
16
- Locality
- Modesto
- Physician work
- 1.017
- Practice expense
- 1.096
- Malpractice
- 0.536
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 8.78 | × 1.017 | 8.9293 |
| Practice expense | 9.56 | × 1.096 | 10.4778 |
| Malpractice | 1.66 | × 0.536 | 0.8898 |
| Total RVUs | 20.2968 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Facility rate, Modesto$677.93
Open 26480 in the RVU calculator →
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Facility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 8.78 | 1.017 |
| Practice expense | 9.56 | 1.096 |
| Malpractice | 1.66 | 0.536 |
(8.78 × 1.017 + 9.56 × 1.096 + 1.66 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $677.93
The office and facility calculations use their respective practice-expense RVUs. The facility amount here is the physician fee, not a separate hospital or facility bill.
How this rate has changed
26480 · Office / nonfacility
Rate unavailable
Effective 2026-10-01
A rate is unavailable in one of these releases, so a change cannot be calculated.
One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.
What changed, release by release
Explore release dates and calculate this code in an earlier period →
Each row uses the accepted CMS release effective on that date and the same contractor and locality identifiers. Missing rates stay visible. Historical boundaries may differ; verify the service address for an older claim.
Inspect every release and its CMS source
| Effective from | Office / nonfacility | Facility | CMS release |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $677.93 | RVU26D |
| 2026-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $677.93 | RVU26C |
| 2026-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $677.93 | RVU26B |
| 2026-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $677.93 | RVU26A |
| 2025-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $724.61 | RVU25D |
| 2025-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $724.61 | RVU25C |
| 2025-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $724.61 | RVU25B |
| 2025-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $724.61 | RVU25A |
26480 billing questions
How does this code differ from 26483?
This code describes tendon transfer or transplantation in the dorsal hand or carpometacarpal region without a free graft. Code 26483 is the corresponding option when a free graft is used.
When should a palm or finger tendon code be considered instead?
Choose based on the operative site. This code is for the carpometacarpal region or back of the hand; palm and finger procedures are represented by other codes, including 26485 and 26489.
What operative details support reporting this service?
Document the involved region, the tendon moved, its route or new attachment, and whether a free graft was used. The record should establish that the work is a tendon transfer or transplant rather than simple realignment.
Can modifier 50 be used when both hands are treated?
No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply to this code, and modifier 50 is inappropriate.
When is an assistant-at-surgery payable?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is limited to cases with documentation of medical necessity. Co-surgeons and team surgery are 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 indices and the applicable conversion factor. Unavailable or separately priced services are labeled rather than assigned a made-up amount.
Source: RVU26D. Effective 2026-10-01 through the day before 2027-01-01.
