Billing code 28272: Toe joint releaseMedicare rate & RVUs in Ohio
Reports surgical release of a contracted toe interphalangeal joint capsule, counted for each treated joint when the capsule itself is released.
Medicare pays $356.50 for 28272 in the office in Ohio (Ohio). 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 28272 covers
This procedure releases a contracted capsule at a toe interphalangeal joint to improve motion or correct a fixed deformity. It may be performed by an orthopedic or podiatric surgeon during foot surgery, including treatment of a rigid toe contracture. The operative report should identify each treated joint and describe the capsular release; a tendon release alone is a different service.
Report the service for each interphalangeal joint released, and support the count with the operative findings and procedure details. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. 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 50% multiple procedure reduction. For bilateral performance, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code; 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.
28272 in Ohio
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | $356.50 | $230.86 |
How the 28272 rate is calculated
Each of 28272’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 · 28272
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 3.82Practice expense 7.12Malpractice 0.35
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 28272
28272 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 28272
Toe joint release
| 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) | 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 · 28272
Toe joint release
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
28272 without 50 · national office
$377.10
Toe joint release
28272-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$565.65
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).
28272 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
28272 vs 28270 vs 28285 vs 28232: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 28270Foot contracture release
- This code applies to the toe interphalangeal joint. 28270 applies to the metatarsophalangeal joint at the base of the toe.
- 28285Hammertoe repair
- Use 28285 for a hammertoe correction operation. Use 28272 when the documented service is capsular release at an interphalangeal joint, rather than the broader deformity correction.
- 28232Toe tendon incision
- 28232 describes open flexor tendon release. 28272 describes release of the toe interphalangeal joint capsule.
28272 billing questions
How does this differ from 28270?
28272 is for release at a toe interphalangeal joint. 28270 concerns the metatarsophalangeal joint, where the toe meets the foot.
Can this be reported with hammertoe correction 28285?
Choose the code that represents the operation actually performed. When the interphalangeal release is part of the hammertoe correction, review the operative work and applicable coding guidance before reporting a separate capsulotomy.
Is a flexor tendon release enough to report 28272?
No. This code represents release of the interphalangeal joint capsule; an open flexor tendon release is a different procedure, described by 28232.
How many units should be reported?
Report each interphalangeal joint released. Document the specific toe and joint for every release.
What Medicare payment rules affect bilateral cases and other procedures in the session?
Modifier 50 is paid at 150% for bilateral performance. In a session with multiple procedures, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the 50% multiple procedure reduction.
Does Medicare pay an assistant surgeon for this service?
No. Medicare's statutory restriction bars assistant-at-surgery payment for this code; co-surgeons and team surgery are also not permitted.
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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