Billing code 28090: Foot lesion excisionMedicare rate & RVUs in Rhode Island
Report excision of a lesion, such as a ganglion cyst, arising from a foot tendon sheath or joint capsule.
Medicare pays $480.43 for 28090 in the office in Rhode Island (Rhode Island). 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 28090 covers
Code 28090 describes surgical removal of a lesion arising from a tendon sheath or joint capsule in the foot, commonly a ganglion cyst. A podiatrist or orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon may perform the procedure in an office-based operating room or outpatient surgical facility. The surgeon exposes the affected structure, separates the lesion from its origin, and removes it; tissue may be submitted for pathology.
Choose this code when the lesion originates from a foot tendon sheath or joint capsule, rather than coding a soft-tissue tumor by depth and size or a lesion of a toe. Document the foot site, the involved sheath or capsule, the lesion and its origin, and the excision performed. The service has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. For bilateral reporting with modifier 50, payment is at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is statutorily restricted; 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.
28090 in Rhode Island
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $480.43 | $299.98 |
How the 28090 rate is calculated
Each of 28090’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 · 28090
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work4.44
4.44 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense9.13
9.13 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.48
0.48 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
14.0500
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$469.28
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 28090
28090 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 28090
Foot lesion excision
| 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 · 28090
Foot lesion excision
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
28090 without 50 · national office
$469.28
Foot lesion excision
28090-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$703.92
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).
28090 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 28092Toe lesion excision
- Both address lesions associated with a tendon sheath or joint capsule; 28090 is for the foot, while 28092 is for a toe.
- 28039Tumor excision
- Use 28039 for a subcutaneous foot or toe soft-tissue tumor at least 1.5 cm, rather than a lesion arising from a tendon sheath or joint capsule.
- 28043Tumor excision
- Use 28043 for a subcutaneous soft-tissue tumor under 1.5 cm; 28090 identifies a lesion by its tendon sheath or joint capsule origin.
- 28080Neuroma excision
- Code 28080 describes excision of an interdigital neuroma, not removal of a tendon sheath or joint capsule lesion.
28090 billing questions
When should 28090 be chosen over 28092?
Use 28090 for a lesion of a foot tendon sheath or joint capsule. Code 28092 is for the corresponding lesion in a toe.
How does 28090 differ from foot soft-tissue tumor excision codes?
Code 28090 is selected for a lesion arising from a tendon sheath or joint capsule. Codes 28039–28045 classify soft-tissue tumor excisions by depth and size.
What documentation supports reporting 28090?
Document the foot location, the tendon sheath or joint capsule involved, the lesion’s origin, and the surgical excision. This distinguishes the service from removal of a soft-tissue mass or toe lesion.
How is bilateral 28090 reported?
For a bilateral procedure, report modifier 50; CMS payment is at 150%.
Are the preoperative visit and postoperative care included?
Yes. 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 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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