Billing code 26474: Tendon tenodesisMedicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Reports surgical fixation of a finger extensor tendon to stabilize or control finger position when tendon balance or function requires correction.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 26474 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 26474 covers
This procedure fixes a finger extensor tendon to a stable structure, such as bone, to limit or guide finger movement. Hand surgeons typically perform it for selected finger deformities or functional problems in which stabilizing the extensor mechanism is the operative goal. The specific technique and structures addressed depend on the patient’s anatomy and the surgical plan.
Report 26474 when the operative work is extensor tendon tenodesis of a finger; flexor tendon tenodesis is a different service. The operative report should identify the finger, tendon, fixation performed, and reason for stabilization. Medicare 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 for this code. Assistant-at-surgery services may be paid; co-surgeon and team-surgery billing 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 26474 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 | $691.45 |
| Miami | Unavailable | $731.18 |
| Rest Of Florida | Unavailable | $654.86 |
How the 26474 rate is calculated
Each of 26474’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 · 26474
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work5.35
5.35 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense13.12
13.12 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.14
1.14 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
19.6100
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$654.99
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 26474
26474 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 26474
Tendon tenodesis
| 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) | 2 | Paid. |
| 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 · 26474
Tendon tenodesis
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
26474 without 51 · national facility
$654.99
Tendon tenodesis
26474-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$327.50
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%).
26474 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 26471Finger tenodesis
- Use 26474 for extensor tendon tenodesis in a finger and 26471 for flexor tendon tenodesis.
- 26437Tendon realignment
- 26437 describes tendon realignment; 26474 is selected when the operative work fixes the extensor tendon for stabilization.
- 26476Tendon lengthening
- 26476 is for tendon lengthening. Choose 26474 when fixation of the extensor tendon, rather than a change in tendon length, is performed.
- 26497Tendon transfer
- 26497 describes a finger tendon transfer. Tenodesis under 26474 stabilizes the extensor tendon instead of rerouting it to provide a different function.
26474 billing questions
How does 26474 differ from 26471?
26474 is for finger extensor tendon tenodesis; 26471 is for finger flexor tendon tenodesis. Use the tendon treated in the operative procedure to distinguish them.
What documentation supports 26474?
Document the finger and extensor tendon treated, the fixation performed, and the clinical reason for stabilizing the tendon. The operative note should make clear that the work was tenodesis rather than tendon realignment or length alteration.
Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral work?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code, so modifier 50 should not be used.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
Under the standard multiple procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are paid at 50% when performed in the same session.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery services may be paid. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted 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 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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