Billing code 26510: Tendon transferMedicare rate & RVUs in Ohio
Reports surgery that transfers a tendon to restore thumb movement, with selection based on the operative technique and the tendon’s destination.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 26510 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 26510 covers
In this operation, a surgeon redirects a functioning tendon and attaches it to the thumb to restore active movement when the thumb’s normal tendon action is deficient. Hand and orthopedic surgeons commonly perform the procedure in an operating room for problems related to tendon injury or loss, nerve dysfunction, or congenital conditions. The operative report should identify the transferred tendon, its new attachment, the thumb function being restored, and any additional procedures performed.
Report the code when the documented operation is a tendon transfer to the thumb; distinguish it from a procedure directed at another hand structure or a specifically defined opponensplasty technique. This major surgery has 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% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity; 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.
26510 in Ohio
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | Unavailable | $592.20 |
How the 26510 rate is calculated
Each of 26510’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 · 26510
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 5.46Practice expense 12.28Malpractice 1.05
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 26510
26510 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 26510
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) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| 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 · 26510
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
26510 without 51 · national facility
$627.60
Tendon transfer
26510-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$313.80
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%).
26510 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
26510 vs 26490 vs 26492 vs 26508: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 26490Thumb tendon repair
- This code is for an opponensplasty using a superficial tendon. Choose based on that defined operation rather than treating every thumb tendon transfer as the same service.
- 26492Tendon transfer
- This code describes opponensplasty using another tendon. The operative technique and donor tendon, not simply the goal of improving thumb function, guide code selection.
- 26508Thumb contracture release
- This code releases a thumb contracture; it does not transfer a tendon to restore active thumb movement.
26510 billing questions
How is this code distinguished from an opponensplasty code?
Base selection on the operation actually performed and the documented tendon transfer. Codes 26490 and 26492 describe opponensplasty by tendon type, so do not choose this code solely because the thumb’s opposition is being improved.
What operative details support reporting this code?
Document the donor tendon, its route and attachment, the thumb movement being restored, and the reason normal tendon function is inadequate.
Can modifier 50 be used for a transfer on both thumbs?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code; modifier 50 should not be used.
What postoperative care is included in the global period?
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?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity.
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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