CPT code 28230: Tendon incision2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Georgia
Report this procedure for open division of one extensor tendon in the foot or toe to address a tendon-related deformity or contracture.
Medicare pays $403.68–$438.24 for 28230 in the office in Georgia, from Rest Of Georgia to Atlanta. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
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 28230 covers
This procedure is an open tenotomy: the surgeon exposes and intentionally divides one extensor tendon in the foot or toe. A podiatric or orthopedic surgeon may perform it to address a deformity or contracture when the extensor tendon is contributing to the problem. The operative report should identify the tendon, its location, the side, and the reason for division; a procedure involving multiple extensor tendons is distinguished from a single-tendon service.
Report the service for the open division itself, not for freeing a tendon from adhesions or repairing a torn tendon. Documentation should support the tendon treated and the open approach. 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 one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. For bilateral surgery reported with modifier 50, payment is 150%. Assistant-at-surgery services are not paid; 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 28230 pays more and less in Georgia
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $438.24 | $275.01 |
| Rest Of Georgia | $403.68 | $260.37 |
How the 28230 rate is calculated
Each of 28230’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 · 28230
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work4.25
4.25 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense8.21
8.21 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.43
0.43 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
12.8900
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$430.54
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 28230
28230 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 28230
Tendon incision
| 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 · 28230
Tendon incision
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
28230 without 50 · national office
$430.54
Tendon incision
28230-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$645.81
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).
28230 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 28234Extensor tenotomy
- Use 28230 for open division of one extensor tendon; 28234 describes the multiple-tendon extensor procedure.
- 28232Toe tendon incision
- Choose by tendon function: 28230 is for an extensor tendon, while 28232 is for a flexor tendon.
- 28222Tendon release
- 28230 intentionally divides an extensor tendon. 28222 releases a single extensor tendon from adhesions without the same division procedure.
- 28200Foot tendon repair
- 28230 divides a tendon intentionally; 28200 is a tendon repair service. Use the procedure actually performed, not merely the presence of a tendon problem.
28230 billing questions
When should I report this instead of 28234?
Report 28230 for open division of one extensor tendon. Code 28234 is the corresponding service when multiple extensor tendons are divided.
How does this differ from 28232?
28230 describes division of an extensor tendon; 28232 is for an open tenotomy of a flexor tendon. The operative note should establish which tendon was treated.
Is tendon release from adhesions reported with this code?
No. Tenotomy divides the tendon; tenolysis frees a tendon from adhesions. For a single extensor tendon, compare the documented service with 28222.
What documentation supports reporting one tendon?
Document the specific extensor tendon, foot or toe location, side, open approach, and clinical reason for division. The record should distinguish one tendon from multiple tendons.
How is bilateral surgery reported under the CMS rules?
For the bilateral procedure, report modifier 50; CMS payment is 150%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be billed?
CMS does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code, and co-surgeons and team surgery are 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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