Billing code 26685: Hand dislocationMedicare rate & RVUs in Alaska
Reports open treatment of a carpometacarpal dislocation in a finger ray other than the thumb, such as an unstable ring- or small-finger CMC injury.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 26685 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 26685 covers
This code describes open treatment of a carpometacarpal (CMC) dislocation in a metacarpal other than the thumb. A common setting is operative care for an unstable or displaced ring- or small-finger CMC injury, including injuries after an axial load to the hand. An orthopedic or hand surgeon exposes the joint to reduce the dislocation; the operative approach and any stabilization should be documented. Thumb CMC dislocations are coded separately.
Choose this open-treatment code based on the operative service, not simply the diagnosis of dislocation. The record should identify the affected joint or joints, the dislocation, and the open reduction performed; document fixation when used to distinguish the applicable sibling code. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery; 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.
26685 in Alaska*
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska* | Unavailable | $649.90 |
How the 26685 rate is calculated
Each of 26685’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 · 26685
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 6.89Practice expense 7.95Malpractice 1.19
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 26685
26685 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 26685
Hand dislocation
| 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) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| 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 · 26685
Hand dislocation
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
26685 without 51 · national facility
$535.42
Hand dislocation
26685-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$267.71
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%).
26685 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
26685 vs 26675 vs 26676 vs 26686 vs 26641: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 26675Hand dislocation
- 26675 is closed treatment with manipulation. Use 26685 for open treatment of the non-thumb CMC dislocation.
- 26676Hand dislocation
- 26676 describes percutaneous skeletal fixation with manipulation, rather than open treatment.
- 26686Hand dislocation
- Both codes concern open treatment of a non-thumb CMC dislocation. Review the operative service and fixation details to select the applicable code.
- 26641Thumb dislocation
- 26641 applies to a thumb CMC dislocation; 26685 applies to a CMC dislocation in another metacarpal ray.
26685 billing questions
How does this differ from 26675?
26675 describes closed treatment with manipulation. Report 26685 when the surgeon performs open treatment of the non-thumb CMC dislocation.
When would 26676 be more appropriate?
26676 describes percutaneous skeletal fixation with manipulation. This code is for open treatment; document the operative approach and fixation performed.
Can this code be used for a thumb CMC dislocation?
No. This code concerns a CMC dislocation other than the thumb; 26641 is the related thumb-dislocation code.
What documentation supports reporting this code?
Document the injured CMC joint, the dislocation, and the open treatment performed. Include operative details about any fixation to support selection among the open-treatment codes.
Can modifier 50 be reported for dislocations on both hands?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code. The descriptor or anatomy does not support modifier 50.
How are assistant and co-surgeon services handled?
Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeons are paid only when supporting documentation is provided; team surgery is 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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