CPT code 26037: Hand decompression2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Alaska
Reports surgical pressure relief in the fingers or hand when the operation also explores neurovascular structures, such as in compartment syndrome.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 26037 in Alaska.
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 26037 covers
This operation relieves pressure in the fingers or hand and includes exploration of nearby nerves and blood vessels. Hand surgeons and other qualified surgeons may perform it for acute compartment syndrome or another documented pressure problem requiring decompression and neurovascular assessment, commonly in an operating room. The operative report should identify the affected hand or fingers, the reason for decompression, the release performed, and the neurovascular structures explored.
Choose this code when the decompression includes that exploration; use the related basic decompression code when neurovascular exploration is not performed. 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 multiple-procedure reduction. For bilateral procedures, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; 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.
26037 in Alaska*
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska* | Unavailable | $643.83 |
How the 26037 rate is calculated
Each of 26037’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 · 26037
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work7.38
7.38 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense6.96
6.96 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.44
1.44 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
15.7800
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$527.07
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 26037
26037 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 26037
Hand decompression
| 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) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| 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 · 26037
Hand decompression
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
26037 without 50 · national facility
$527.07
Hand decompression
26037-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$790.61
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).
26037 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 26035Hand decompression
- Both describe decompression of the fingers or hand. Choose 26037 when neurovascular structures are explored as part of the operation; otherwise consider 26035.
- 64702Nerve neuroplasty
- This code describes neuroplasty of a digital nerve. It is directed at a digital nerve problem, rather than pressure relief across hand or finger compartments.
- 26020Tendon sheath drainage
- This code is for drainage of a hand or finger tendon sheath. Use it for a tendon-sheath infection, not for compartment decompression with neurovascular exploration.
26037 billing questions
How does this differ from 26035?
Use 26037 when the decompression includes exploration of neurovascular structures. Code 26035 describes the related decompression without that exploration.
What documentation supports 26037?
Document the pressure-related condition, the fingers or hand treated, the decompression performed, and the neurovascular structures explored.
Are related postoperative visits separately reported?
The 90-day global period includes related postoperative care, as well as the day-before preoperative visit.
How is a bilateral procedure reported?
Report modifier 50 for a bilateral procedure; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?
Under the standard multiple-procedure rule, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others are paid at 50%.
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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