Billing code 26080: Finger joint arthrotomyMedicare rate & RVUs in Oregon
Operative opening of a finger interphalangeal joint for direct assessment, drainage, or removal of a loose or foreign body.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 26080 in Oregon.
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 26080 covers
26080 represents operative entry into a finger interphalangeal joint to inspect the joint, drain material, or remove a loose or foreign body. A hand or orthopedic surgeon may perform it when direct access is needed, such as for drainage of an infected joint or removal of an object or loose body within the joint. The operative report should identify the finger joint entered, the clinical reason, and the work performed.
Select this code for an interphalangeal joint, rather than a metacarpophalangeal joint, superficial finger abscess, or flexor tendon sheath. CMS assigns a 90-day major-surgery 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 the others at 50%. CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply, so modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery; 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.
Where 26080 pays more and less in Oregon
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Portland | Unavailable | $406.70 |
| Rest Of Oregon | Unavailable | $378.60 |
How the 26080 rate is calculated
Each of 26080’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 · 26080
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work4.36
4.36 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense6.41
6.41 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.84
0.84 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
11.6100
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$387.78
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 26080
26080 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 26080
Finger joint arthrotomy
| 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) | 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 · 26080
Finger joint arthrotomy
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
26080 without 51 · national facility
$387.78
Finger joint arthrotomy
26080-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$193.89
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%).
26080 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 26075Finger joint surgery
- Use 26080 for an interphalangeal joint and 26075 for a metacarpophalangeal joint. The joint entered determines which code fits.
- 26010Abscess drainage
- 26010 describes drainage of a finger abscess. Use 26080 when the operative work opens the interphalangeal joint for exploration, drainage, or removal of material.
- 26020Tendon sheath drainage
- 26020 applies to drainage of a hand tendon sheath. 26080 is for operative work within a finger interphalangeal joint.
26080 billing questions
How does 26080 differ from 26075?
26080 is for an interphalangeal joint of a finger. 26075 is for a metacarpophalangeal joint.
Can the drainage or exploration be billed separately?
Exploration, drainage, or removal of a loose or foreign body is part of the arthrotomy service described by 26080 when performed through that joint opening.
Should modifier 50 be used for procedures on both hands?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inapplicable to 26080, making 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.
Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?
Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are 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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