No office rate
This code covers flexor tenolysis in the palm and finger without the extensive-dissection distinction. Choose 26442 when the operative work meets that sibling code's extensive-dissection criterion.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
26440 Flexor tenolysis Medicare reimbursement rates in Maine
Surgical release of adhesions limiting flexor tendon glide in the palm or finger, reported for each tendon treated. Compare 26440 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities in Maine.
Amounts below use the non-QP conversion factor for participating physicians. These are base physician payments before claim-level adjustments, not patient costs or total hospital charges.
What does Medicare pay for 26440 in Maine?
Maine has 2 payment localities in this comparison. Use the service location to choose the applicable amount. These are the supported base rates for the 2 payment areas shown below, using the same CMS release.
Office / nonfacility
No supported rate
Facility setting
$595.11–$626.82
2 of 2 localities have a supported rate.
These are locality ranges, not averages or address-specific quotes. A facility-setting amount covers the physician service; it does not include a hospital’s separate bill. Choose a locality below to inspect its calculation, compare other payment areas, or price a percentage of Medicare.
Hand surgery
About 26440: Flexor tendon adhesion release in palm and finger
Surgical release of adhesions limiting flexor tendon glide in the palm or finger, reported for each tendon treated.
This operation frees a flexor tendon from scar tissue that restricts its movement through the palm or finger. A hand surgeon typically performs it when adhesions remain after a tendon injury or repair and limit active motion. The surgeon exposes the involved tendon and releases the surrounding scar while preserving the tendon and nearby structures. The service may be performed in a hospital or ambulatory surgery setting.
Report the code for each flexor tendon released in the palm and finger, and document the tendon, site, adhesions, and release performed. Use the more extensive-dissection sibling when the operative work meets that distinction. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
CMS billing rules for 26440
- Global period
- Major surgery with a 90-day global period: the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included.
- Multiple procedures
- Standard multiple procedure reduction: the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50% when performed in the same session.
- Bilateral procedures
- Bilateral adjustment does not apply; the descriptor or anatomy makes modifier 50 inappropriate.
- Assistant at surgery
- Statutory restriction: assistant at surgery is not paid.
- Co-surgeons
- Co-surgeons not permitted.
- Team surgery
- Team surgery not permitted.
Where the value comes from
- Work RVU5.03 · 26%
- Practice expense (office) RVU13.25 · 69%
- Malpractice RVU0.96 · 5%
5.1K
Medicare services in 2024 · #1860 by national volume
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.
26440 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Maine, from the same CMS release.
No office rate
This code is for extensor tendon tenolysis in the hand or finger. Code 26440 concerns flexor tendon adhesions in the palm and finger.
No office rate
This code addresses flexor tendon tenolysis at the forearm or wrist. Choose 26440 for the palm and finger site.
No office rate
This code repairs a hand tendon; 26440 releases adhesions restricting a tendon that is already present. The operative purpose, not simply a history of tendon injury, distinguishes them.
Compare 26440 by payment locality
Find the payment area for your service address, then open its rate page for calculation inputs, release history and the percentage-of-Medicare tool. A city may cross payment-area boundaries; the ZIP lookup above helps resolve the location.
2 of 2 payment localities
Rest Of Maine →
Office / nonfacility
Unavailable
Facility
$595.11
Southern Maine →
Office / nonfacility
Unavailable
Facility
$626.82
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26440 billing questions
How is this code distinguished from 26442?
Both describe flexor tendon adhesion release in the palm and finger. Use 26442 when the operative work requires the extensive dissection specified for that sibling code.
Is the code reported once per hand or once per tendon?
It is reported for each tendon released. The operative note should identify each treated tendon and its location.
Can modifier 50 be used when both hands are treated?
No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply, and modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code.
Are related postoperative visits included?
Yes. The 90-day global period includes related postoperative care and the day-before preoperative visit.
Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be billed?
Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
What happens when this is performed with another procedure in the same session?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction.
Where these rates come from
FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense, and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indices and the applicable conversion factor. Unavailable or separately priced services are labeled rather than assigned a made-up amount.
Source: RVU26D. Effective 2026-10-01 through the day before 2027-01-01.
2,59426433,,Repair finger tendon,A,,4.58,11.53,NA,11.53,,0.89,17.00,17.00,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
2,59526434,,Repair/graft finger tendon,A,,6.10,13.35,NA,13.35,,1.31,20.76,20.76,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,0,2,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
2,59626437,,Realignment of tendons,A,,5.84,12.49,NA,12.49,,1.12,19.45,19.45,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
2,59726440,,Release palm/finger tendon,A,,5.03,13.25,NA,13.25,,0.96,19.24,19.24,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
2,59826442,,Release palm & finger tendon,A,,9.51,17.42,NA,17.42,,1.84,28.77,28.77,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
2,59926445,,Release hand/finger tendon,A,,4.34,12.94,NA,12.94,,0.83,18.11,18.11,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
2,60026449,,Release forearm/hand tendon,A,,8.38,9.84,NA,9.84,,1.56,19.78,19.78,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00