Billing code 26235: Finger bone surgeryMedicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Reports surgical removal of part of a finger phalanx, such as an ostectomy to address a symptomatic bony prominence or localized bone deformity.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 26235 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 26235 covers
A hand surgeon removes a limited portion of a finger phalanx, rather than the entire bone. The procedure may address a symptomatic bony prominence or localized phalangeal deformity when partial bone removal is the operative objective. It is typically performed in an operating room or procedure setting by an orthopedic or plastic surgeon specializing in hand surgery. The operative report should identify the finger and phalanx treated and describe the portion of bone removed and the reason for the excision.
Report this service when the documented procedure is partial removal of a finger bone; distinguish it from a procedure directed at curettage or excision of a defined bone lesion. The 90-day global period includes 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. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of 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.
Where 26235 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 | $499.57 |
| Miami | Unavailable | $534.35 |
| Rest Of Florida | Unavailable | $474.97 |
How the 26235 rate is calculated
Each of 26235’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 · 26235
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 6.17Practice expense 6.55Malpractice 1.19
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 26235
26235 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 26235
Finger bone surgery
| 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) | 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 · 26235
Finger bone surgery
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
26235 without 51 · national facility
$464.61
Finger bone surgery
26235-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$232.31
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%).
26235 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
26235 vs 26210 vs 26230 vs 26236: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 26210Bone lesion removal
- Code 26210 applies to removal or curettage of a bone lesion in a finger phalanx. This code describes partial phalanx removal, such as an ostectomy.
- 26230Hand bone excision
- Code 26230 addresses partial excision of a metacarpal. This code applies when the partially removed bone is a finger phalanx.
- 26236Finger bone excision
- Both are nearby codes for partial finger-bone removal. Verify the full billing code descriptor and operative details to identify the applicable distinction.
26235 billing questions
How does this differ from code 26210?
Use this code for partial removal of a finger phalanx, such as an ostectomy. Code 26210 is for removal or curettage of a bone lesion in a finger phalanx.
What should the operative report document?
Document the finger and phalanx treated, the indication, and the specific portion of bone removed. The note should make clear that the work was partial bone excision.
Can modifier 50 be reported for both hands?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code. Do not use modifier 50.
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.
When is an assistant at surgery payable?
Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted for this code.
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
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