Billing code 28003: Foot infection drainageMedicare rate & RVUs in Alabama
Surgical drainage of a deep infection involving multiple foot areas, with possible tendon-sheath involvement, is reported when operative work extends below fascia.
Medicare pays $342.67 for 28003 in the office in Alabama (Alabama). Which amount applies depends on the service address.
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 9 sections
What 28003 covers
This service involves surgically opening and draining a deep foot infection in multiple areas below the fascia; tendon-sheath involvement may be present. An orthopedic foot-and-ankle surgeon or podiatric surgeon may perform it for a deep abscess, including a diabetic foot infection extending through more than one deep area. The procedure is commonly performed in an operating room or ambulatory surgery setting and differs from drainage confined to a bursa or a single deep area.
Report 28003 when the operative record supports drainage in multiple deep areas. Document the involved sites, extent of infection, and drainage performed. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Bilateral adjustment does not apply, and modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted; 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.
28003 in Alabama
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $342.67 | $217.88 |
How the 28003 rate is calculated
Each of 28003’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 · 28003
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work5.15
5.15 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense5.49
5.49 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.54
0.54 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
11.1800
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$373.42
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 28003
The CMS indicators that decide how 28003 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 28003
Foot infection drainage
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
28003 without 51 · national office
$373.42
Foot infection drainage
28003-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$186.71
When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).
28003 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 28002Foot infection drainage
- Choose 28002 for drainage in one deep foot area. Choose 28003 when the operative work addresses multiple deep areas.
- 28001Bursa drainage
- 28001 describes drainage directed at a foot bursa. 28003 is for infection drained in multiple areas below the fascia.
- 28005Foot bone treatment
- 28005 involves incision into foot bone cortex. 28003 addresses deep soft-tissue infection drainage across multiple areas.
28003 billing questions
How does 28003 differ from 28002?
28003 is for drainage involving multiple deep areas of the foot. Use 28002 when the documented drainage is limited to one deep area.
What should the operative report document?
Identify the deep infection sites and describe drainage performed in multiple areas below the fascia. Document any tendon-sheath involvement when present.
Can modifier 50 be used for both feet?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code, so modifier 50 should not be used.
Is same-day postoperative care included?
Yes. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted for this code. 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 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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