$64.12
This code reports injection treatment of a tendon sheath; 26055 reports surgical release of the finger sheath.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
26055 Trigger finger release Medicare reimbursement rates in Connecticut
Reports surgical release of a finger’s constricting tendon sheath for symptomatic triggering, catching, or locking that is treated operatively. Compare 26055 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities in Connecticut.
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.
What does Medicare pay for 26055 in Connecticut?
Connecticut has 1 payment locality in this comparison. Use the service location to choose the applicable amount. These are the supported base rates for the payment area shown below, using the same CMS release.
Office / nonfacility
$674.89
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: Connecticut
One mapped payment locality.
Facility setting
$306.53
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: Connecticut
One mapped payment locality.
These are locality ranges, not averages or address-specific quotes. A facility-setting amount covers the physician service; it does not include a hospital’s separate bill. Choose a locality below to inspect its calculation, compare other payment areas, or price a percentage of Medicare.
Hand surgery
About 26055: Trigger finger tendon sheath release
Reports surgical release of a finger’s constricting tendon sheath for symptomatic triggering, catching, or locking that is treated operatively.
This operation treats stenosing tenosynovitis, commonly called trigger finger. The surgeon makes an incision over the affected finger’s flexor tendon sheath and releases the constriction so the tendon can glide more freely. It is typically performed by a hand surgeon, orthopedic surgeon, or plastic surgeon in an operating room or outpatient procedure setting. Patients commonly have painful catching or locking of a finger during flexion and extension.
Report the service when the operative record supports release of the finger tendon sheath, rather than injection or treatment directed at the tendon itself. Document the affected digit, the triggering symptoms, and the release 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. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. CMS does not pay an assistant at surgery, and does not permit co-surgeons or team surgery for this code.
CMS billing rules for 26055
- 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
- Statutory restriction: assistant at surgery is not paid.
- Co-surgeons
- Co-surgeons not permitted.
- Team surgery
- Team surgery not permitted.
Where the value comes from
- Work RVU3.03 · 16%
- Practice expense (office) RVU15.24 · 81%
- Malpractice RVU0.58 · 3%
153.6K
Medicare services in 2024 · #444 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.
26055 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Connecticut, from the same CMS release.
No office rate
26020 is used to drain an infected hand tendon sheath. 26055 releases a finger sheath for mechanical triggering.
No office rate
26060 involves incision of a finger tendon itself. Use 26055 when the operative target is the tendon sheath.
$704.61
26160 removes a lesion of a tendon sheath or joint capsule; 26055 releases a constricting finger sheath.
Compare 26055 by payment locality
Find the payment area for your service address, then open its rate page for calculation inputs, release history and the percentage-of-Medicare tool. A city may cross payment-area boundaries; the ZIP lookup above helps resolve the location.
1 of 1 payment localities
Connecticut →
Office / nonfacility
$674.89
Facility
$306.53
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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 26055 in Connecticut.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
2,537
- Code
- 26055
- Physician work
- 3.03
- Practice expense
- 15.24
- Malpractice
- 0.58
GPCI2026.csv
38
- Locality
- Connecticut
- Physician work
- 1.020
- Practice expense
- 1.077
- Malpractice
- 1.210
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 3.03 | × 1.020 | 3.0906 |
| Practice expense | 15.24 | × 1.077 | 16.4135 |
| Malpractice | 0.58 | × 1.210 | 0.7018 |
| Total RVUs | 20.2059 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Office / nonfacility rate, Connecticut$674.89
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Office / nonfacility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 3.03 | 1.02 |
| Practice expense | 15.24 | 1.077 |
| Malpractice | 0.58 | 1.21 |
(3.03 × 1.02 + 15.24 × 1.077 + 0.58 × 1.21) × $33.4009 = $674.89
Facility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 3.03 | 1.02 |
| Practice expense | 5 | 1.077 |
| Malpractice | 0.58 | 1.21 |
(3.03 × 1.02 + 5 × 1.077 + 0.58 × 1.21) × $33.4009 = $306.53
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.
26055 billing questions
When is this code appropriate instead of a tendon-sheath injection?
Use this code for operative release of a constricting finger tendon sheath. Code 20550 describes injection treatment, not surgical release.
Does the global period include routine postoperative visits?
Yes. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can modifier 50 be used when both hands are treated?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full; other procedures in the session are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction.
Is an assistant surgeon payable?
No. CMS lists a statutory restriction on assistant-at-surgery payment for this code.
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.
2,53426037,,Decompress fingers/hand,A,,7.38,6.96,NA,6.96,,1.44,15.78,15.78,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
2,53526040,,Release palm contracture,A,,3.37,5.25,NA,5.25,,0.62,9.24,9.24,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
2,53626045,,Release palm contracture,A,,5.59,6.87,NA,6.87,,1.11,13.57,13.57,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
2,53726055,,Incise finger tendon sheath,A,,3.03,15.24,,5.00,,0.58,18.85,8.61,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
2,53826060,,Incision of finger tendon,A,,2.84,4.00,NA,4.00,,0.45,7.29,7.29,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
2,53926070,,Explore/treat hand joint,A,,3.71,4.98,NA,4.98,,0.68,9.37,9.37,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
2,54026075,,Explore/treat finger joint,A,,3.81,5.34,NA,5.34,,0.73,9.88,9.88,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3501112,CA,70,YUBA CITY,1.017,1.096,0.536
3601112,CA,75,REST OF CALIFORNIA,1.017,1.096,0.536
3704112,CO,01,COLORADO,1.012,1.064,0.781
3813102,CT,00,CONNECTICUT,1.020,1.077,1.210
3912202,DC,01,DC + MD/VA SUBURBS,1.054,1.178,1.113
4012102,DE,01,DELAWARE,1.005,0.988,0.899
4109102,FL,03,FORT LAUDERDALE,1.000,1.013,1.808