Billing code 28890: Shock wave therapyMedicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
Reports high-energy extracorporeal shock wave treatment of the plantar fascia under anesthesia, commonly for persistent plantar fasciopathy.
Medicare pays $293.56–$318.19 for 28890 in the office in Illinois, from Rest Of Illinois to Chicago. 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 28890 covers
This procedure delivers focused, high-energy acoustic pulses to the plantar fascia, typically to treat persistent plantar fasciopathy. A physician or other qualified health care professional performs the treatment, generally in an outpatient setting. The service is performed under anesthesia, and ultrasound guidance is included in the code. It is distinct from lower-energy shock wave treatment and from injection or surgical release of the fascia.
Report 28890 for high-energy treatment involving the plantar fascia, not for a different foot structure or a lower-energy protocol. Documentation should identify the treated side and plantar fascia, describe the high-energy treatment and anesthesia, and support the procedure performed. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care for 90 days. 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. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is 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 28890 pays more and less in Illinois
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
4 payment localities
$293.56 to $318.19
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $318.19 | $219.50 |
| East St. Louis | $299.21 | $208.86 |
| Rest Of Illinois | $293.56 | $203.91 |
| Suburban Chicago | $317.13 | $216.28 |
How the 28890 rate is calculated
Each of 28890’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 · 28890
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 3.36Practice expense 5.45Malpractice 0.29
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 28890
28890 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 28890
Shock wave therapy
| 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) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| 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 · 28890
Shock wave therapy
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
28890 without 50 · national office
$303.95
Shock wave therapy
28890-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$455.93
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).
28890 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
28890 vs 0101T vs 20550 vs 28008 vs 28060: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 0101TEsw muscskel sys nos
- Choose 28890 for high-energy treatment of the plantar fascia under anesthesia. 0101T is for lower-energy musculoskeletal shock wave treatment without anesthesia.
- 20550Tendon sheath injection
- 20550 reports an injection involving the plantar fascia; 28890 reports high-energy extracorporeal shock wave treatment.
- 28008Fascia release
- 28008 describes surgical release of the plantar fascia. It is not the shock wave treatment reported with 28890.
- 28060Plantar fascia surgery
- 28060 involves partial excision of plantar fascia tissue, whereas 28890 treats the fascia with high-energy shock waves.
28890 billing questions
How is 28890 different from 0101T?
28890 is for high-energy shock wave treatment of the plantar fascia under anesthesia. 0101T describes a lower-energy musculoskeletal shock wave service that does not require anesthesia.
Is ultrasound guidance separately reported?
No. Ultrasound guidance is included in 28890.
Can modifier 50 be used for treatment of both plantar fasciae?
CMS identifies this as a bilateral procedure. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can an assistant surgeon be paid for 28890?
CMS applies a statutory restriction on assistant-at-surgery payment for this code. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is not permitted.
When is 20550 a better fit?
Use 20550 for an injection involving the plantar fascia. It describes an injection service, not high-energy extracorporeal shock wave treatment.
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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