Billing code 26045: Palmar releaseMedicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Reports open division of a contracted palmar fascial cord, typically for Dupuytren disease causing restricted finger extension.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 26045 in Florida.
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 26045 covers
billing code 26045 represents an open palmar fasciotomy: the surgeon makes an incision over a contracted palmar fascial cord and divides it to release the contracture. The procedure is commonly performed for Dupuytren disease when a fixed contracture limits hand or finger extension. Hand, orthopedic, and plastic surgeons may perform it in an operating room or another surgical setting.
Choose this code when the documented work is open division of the contracted fascia, rather than percutaneous release or excision of diseased fascia. The operative note should identify the treated palm, the contracture and cord released, and the open technique. This major surgery has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery; 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.
Where 26045 pays more and less in Florida
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | Unavailable | $486.19 |
| Miami | Unavailable | $519.35 |
| Rest Of Florida | Unavailable | $461.80 |
How the 26045 rate is calculated
Each of 26045’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 · 26045
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 5.59Practice expense 6.87Malpractice 1.11
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 26045
26045 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 26045
Palmar release
| 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) | 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 · 26045
Palmar release
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
26045 without 50 · national facility
$453.25
Palmar release
26045-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$679.88
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).
26045 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
26045 vs 26040 vs 26121 vs 26123: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 26040Palm contracture release
- 26040 is a percutaneous palmar release; 26045 is the open release. Select based on the operative approach documented.
- 26121Palmar fasciectomy
- 26121 describes excision of palmar fascia. 26045 describes open division of contracted fascia without fasciectomy.
- 26123Dupuytren release
- 26123 describes palmar fasciectomy with release extending into a digit, including the PIP joint. 26045 is an open palmar fasciotomy.
26045 billing questions
How does 26045 differ from 26040?
26045 describes open division of the palmar fascia. 26040 is used for percutaneous palmar release.
When is a fasciectomy code more appropriate?
Use a fasciectomy code when the surgeon removes diseased palmar fascia rather than simply dividing the contracted cord. The operative report should support the work performed.
Does the 90-day global include postoperative visits?
Related postoperative care for 90 days is included, as is the day-before preoperative visit.
How is bilateral 26045 reported?
Report bilateral treatment with modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?
Under the standard multiple procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others 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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