$460.85–$505.48
Both describe freeing adhesions from one foot tendon; 28220 is for a flexor tendon, while 28222 is for an extensor tendon.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
28222 Tendon release Medicare reimbursement rates in Massachusetts
Reports surgical freeing of adhesions around one foot extensor tendon when scar tissue restricts tendon glide after injury or prior surgery. Compare 28222 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities in Massachusetts.
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 28222 in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts 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
$559.99–$613.84
2 of 2 localities have a supported rate.
Facility setting
$355.29–$381.74
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.
Foot surgery
About 28222: Single extensor tendon adhesiolysis
Reports surgical freeing of adhesions around one foot extensor tendon when scar tissue restricts tendon glide after injury or prior surgery.
28222 represents surgical freeing of adhesions that tether one extensor tendon in the foot and limit its movement. An orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon or podiatric surgeon may perform it when scarring after an injury or prior tendon procedure restricts tendon glide. The operative work addresses the adhesions around the tendon; it is not tendon division or tendon repair.
Choose this code for one extensor tendon. Documentation should identify the tendon and foot, describe the adhesions and restricted glide, and record the release performed. The multiple-tendon extensor service is 28226; flexor tendon services are coded separately by tendon type and count. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued is paid in full and others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
CMS billing rules for 28222
- 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 procedure with modifier 50 is paid at 150%.
- 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 RVU5.62 · 35%
- Practice expense (office) RVU10.03 · 62%
- Malpractice RVU0.62 · 4%
139
Medicare services in 2024 · #4611 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.
28222 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Massachusetts, from the same CMS release.
$424.36–$467.32
28225 addresses multiple foot flexor tendons. Use 28222 for one foot extensor tendon.
$686.61–$761.22
Both address foot extensor tendon adhesions, but 28226 is for multiple tendons and 28222 is for one.
$444.43–$487.98
28230 describes open division of an extensor tendon; 28222 frees adhesions while preserving tendon continuity.
Compare 28222 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
Metropolitan Boston →
Office / nonfacility
$613.84
Facility
$381.74
Rest Of Massachusetts →
Office / nonfacility
$559.99
Facility
$355.29
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28222 billing questions
When is 28222 appropriate instead of 28226?
Use 28222 when adhesiolysis involves one foot extensor tendon. 28226 is the corresponding service for multiple extensor tendons.
How does this differ from an extensor tenotomy?
28222 frees a tendon from adhesions while preserving tendon continuity. A tenotomy code describes cutting the tendon, not freeing it from scar tissue.
What should the operative note identify?
Document the foot and specific extensor tendon, the adhesions restricting its movement, and the surgical release performed.
Can modifier 50 be used when both feet are treated?
CMS identifies this as a bilateral procedure; reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%.
Is postoperative care separately included in the service?
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 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.
3,14928208,,Repair of foot tendon,A,,4.40,9.96,,4.31,,0.56,14.92,9.27,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,0,1,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,15028210,,Repair/graft of foot tendon,A,,6.36,10.76,,4.76,,0.78,17.90,11.90,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,0,2,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,15128220,,Release of foot tendon,A,,4.55,8.38,,3.65,,0.44,13.37,8.64,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,15228222,,Release of foot tendons,A,,5.62,10.03,,4.21,,0.62,16.27,10.45,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,15328225,,Release of foot tendon,A,,3.69,8.21,,3.44,,0.39,12.29,7.52,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,1,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,15428226,,Release of foot tendons,A,,4.55,14.39,,6.17,,0.98,19.92,11.70,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,15528230,,Incision of foot tendon(s),A,,4.25,8.21,,3.40,,0.43,12.89,8.08,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00