Billing code 26615: Metacarpal fractureMedicare rate & RVUs in Alaska
Report this service for open treatment of a metacarpal fracture, with internal fixation when performed, for each metacarpal bone treated.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 26615 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 26615 covers
This service covers surgical exposure and direct treatment of a fractured metacarpal, with internal fixation when performed. It is typically performed by an orthopedic or hand surgeon in an operating room when the fracture requires open treatment rather than closed reduction or percutaneous fixation. The code is reported for each metacarpal bone treated; the operative report should identify the involved bone and document the open approach, reduction, and fixation performed.
The code has 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 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery, and 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.
26615 in Alaska*
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska* | Unavailable | $660.65 |
How the 26615 rate is calculated
Each of 26615’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 · 26615
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 6.89Practice expense 8.18Malpractice 1.33
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 26615
26615 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 26615
Metacarpal fracture
| 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) | 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. |
| 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 · 26615
Metacarpal fracture
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 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
26615 without 51 · national facility
$547.77
Metacarpal fracture
26615-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$273.89
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%).
26615 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
26615 vs 26600 vs 26605 vs 26608: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 26600Metacarpal fracture care
- Choose 26600 for closed treatment without manipulation. This code describes open treatment of the fracture.
- 26605Metacarpal fracture
- Choose 26605 when the fracture is treated closed with manipulation. This code applies when treatment is open.
- 26608Metacarpal fracture
- Choose 26608 for percutaneous skeletal fixation. This code is for open treatment, including internal fixation when performed.
26615 billing questions
When should this code be chosen over closed-treatment codes?
Use it when the metacarpal fracture is treated through an open surgical approach. Closed treatment without manipulation or with manipulation is represented by different codes.
Is internal fixation included?
Yes. The service includes internal fixation when performed as part of the open fracture treatment.
How many units should be reported when multiple metacarpals are treated?
The code is reported for each metacarpal bone treated. Document the specific bone or bones addressed in the operation.
How does the multiple-procedure reduction affect payment?
For procedures performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction.
Can modifier 50 or an assistant-at-surgery claim be used?
Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
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
Fee sheets
Put 26615 and the rest of your codes on one sheet
Build a fee sheet from your own code list at your locality, put your payer contracts beside Medicare, and see what changed each quarter.
Build my fee sheetOr price your code list free →