Billing code 26483: Tendon transferMedicare rate & RVUs in Ohio
Reports tendon transfer or reconstruction in the carpometacarpal region or back of the hand when a free tendon graft is used.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 26483 in Ohio.
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 26483 covers
This code covers transferring or reconstructing a tendon in the carpometacarpal region or on the back of the hand using a free tendon graft. Hand surgeons typically perform the operation to restore tendon function after injury, rupture, or a tendon defect. The recipient location and tendon involved distinguish this service from graft procedures directed to the palm or fingers.
Report the code when the operative note supports a tendon transfer or transplant at the specified hand location and documents use of a free graft. The code is reported per tendon. It has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, Medicare pays the highest-valued procedure in full and reduces the others to 50%. Do not use modifier 50; the descriptor or anatomy makes it inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available. 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.
26483 in Ohio
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | Unavailable | $791.39 |
How the 26483 rate is calculated
Each of 26483’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 · 26483
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work8.27
8.27 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense15.16
15.16 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.57
1.57 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
25.0000
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$835.02
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 26483
26483 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 26483
Tendon transfer
| 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) | 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 · 26483
Tendon transfer
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
26483 without 51 · national facility
$835.02
Tendon transfer
26483-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$417.51
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%).
26483 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 26480Tendon transfer
- Both concern tendon transfer or transplant in the carpometacarpal region or dorsum of the hand. The distinguishing feature is use of a free tendon graft for 26483.
- 26485Tendon transfer
- This code is directed to the palm or finger flexor tendon region; 26483 addresses the carpometacarpal region or back of the hand.
- 26489Tendon transfer
- This code is directed to the palm or finger extensor tendon region; 26483 addresses the carpometacarpal region or back of the hand.
26483 billing questions
How does this differ from 26480?
Both address tendon transfer or transplant in the carpometacarpal region or dorsum of the hand. Use 26483 when a free tendon graft is used; 26480 is the related option without a free graft.
Does the code include a tendon graft?
Yes. The operative documentation should identify the free graft and the recipient tendon and location.
How many units should be reported?
The code is reported per tendon. The operative report should support the number of tendons transferred or reconstructed.
Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral procedures?
No. The code's descriptor or anatomy makes modifier 50 inappropriate.
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?
Medicare pays the highest-valued procedure in full and reduces the other procedures to 50%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation.
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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