Billing code 26735: Finger fracture repairMedicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Reports open surgical treatment of a proximal or middle finger phalanx shaft fracture, counted separately for each treated finger.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 26735 in Texas.
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 26735 covers
This code covers open surgical treatment of a shaft fracture in the proximal or middle phalanx of a finger or thumb. The surgeon exposes the fracture and restores alignment; internal fixation, such as pins or other fixation devices, is included when performed. Hand surgeons and orthopedic surgeons commonly perform the service in an operating room, though treatment may occur in other appropriate surgical settings.
Report one service for each treated finger, selecting this code when the fracture is treated through an open approach rather than closed manipulation or immobilization alone. Operative documentation should identify the bone and fracture site, the open treatment, and any fixation used. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code’s anatomy and descriptor. 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 26735 pays more and less in Texas
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | Unavailable | $575.65 |
| Beaumont | Unavailable | $536.29 |
| Brazoria | Unavailable | $553.63 |
| Dallas | Unavailable | $558.90 |
| Fort Worth | Unavailable | $556.75 |
| Galveston | Unavailable | $556.43 |
| Houston | Unavailable | $582.06 |
| Rest Of Texas | Unavailable | $545.85 |
How the 26735 rate is calculated
Each of 26735’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 · 26735
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 7.23Practice expense 8.27Malpractice 1.40
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 26735
26735 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 26735
Finger fracture repair
| 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 · 26735
Finger fracture repair
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
26735 without 51 · national facility
$564.48
Finger fracture repair
26735-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$282.24
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%).
26735 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
26735 vs 26720 vs 26725 vs 26746 vs 26756: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 26720Finger fracture care
- Use 26720 for closed treatment of a proximal or middle phalanx shaft fracture without manipulation; use 26735 when treatment is open.
- 26725Finger fracture treatment
- Use 26725 for closed treatment with manipulation. Open surgical treatment of the shaft fracture is reported with 26735.
- 26746Finger fracture repair
- 26746 describes open treatment of a fracture involving a metacarpophalangeal or interphalangeal joint; 26735 is for a phalangeal shaft fracture.
- 26756Fracture fixation
- 26756 is for open treatment of a distal phalanx fracture. This code is for a proximal or middle phalanx shaft fracture.
26735 billing questions
When should this code be selected instead of a closed-treatment code?
Use it when the surgeon treats a proximal or middle phalanx shaft fracture through an open approach. Closed treatment codes describe treatment without open surgical exposure.
Is internal fixation separately reported?
No. Fixation, when performed as part of the open fracture treatment, is included in this service.
How many units should be reported for multiple fractured fingers?
Report each treated finger separately. The multiple-procedure reduction may affect payment when other procedures are performed in the same session.
Can modifier 50 be used for fractures on both hands?
No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code; report the service by treated finger.
Are the surgeon's related postoperative visits separately payable?
Related postoperative care during the 90-day global period is included, along with the day-before preoperative visit.
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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