Billing code 28002: Foot infection drainageMedicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Reports operative drainage of one deep foot infection beneath the fascia, including cases with tendon-sheath involvement, when a single infected space is treated.
Medicare pays $228.70–$249.68 for 28002 in the office in Texas, from Beaumont to Austin. 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 28002 covers
billing code 28002 represents operative drainage of a deep infection in one foot space beneath the superficial fascia; the infection may extend into a tendon sheath. A typical case involves a deep abscess requiring surgical exposure rather than drainage limited to the skin. Podiatric and orthopedic surgeons commonly perform the procedure in an operating room or ambulatory surgery setting; an appropriately equipped office may be used when the case and patient permit.
Choose this code when the operative findings and report support treatment of one infected space. Document the involved foot site, depth, extent of infection, tendon-sheath involvement when present, and the number of areas treated. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. If multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay for 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 28002 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 payment localities
$228.70 to $249.68
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | $249.68 | $128.11 |
| Beaumont | $228.70 | $124.14 |
| Brazoria | $239.76 | $125.89 |
| Dallas | $241.22 | $126.78 |
| Fort Worth | $239.90 | $126.61 |
| Galveston | $240.45 | $126.35 |
| Houston | $245.02 | $130.93 |
| Rest Of Texas | $234.06 | $125.02 |
How the 28002 rate is calculated
Each of 28002’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 · 28002
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 2.72Practice expense 4.28Malpractice 0.25
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 28002
The CMS indicators that decide how 28002 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 28002
Foot infection drainage
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is 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. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
28002 without 51 · national office
$242.16
Foot infection drainage
28002-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$121.08
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%).
28002 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
28002 vs 28003 vs 28001 vs 10060 vs 10061: national Medicare rates
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How to choose
- 28003Foot infection drainage
- This is the close sibling for drainage involving multiple areas. Use 28002 when the operative treatment is confined to one deep infected space.
- 28001Bursa drainage
- 28001 is directed to drainage of a foot bursa. Choose 28002 when the treated infection is a deep foot space rather than an infected bursa.
- 10060Abscess drainage
- 10060 describes drainage of a simple or single superficial abscess. 28002 is for operative drainage of a deep infection beneath the foot fascia.
- 10061Abscess drainage
- 10061 is for complicated or multiple superficial abscesses. It does not represent drainage of a deep foot space beneath the fascia.
28002 billing questions
How does 28002 differ from 28003?
28002 is for drainage of one deep infected space. Use 28003 when the operative treatment involves multiple areas.
Is modifier 50 appropriate for infection in both feet?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code. The anatomy or descriptor makes modifier 50 unsuitable.
What same-day care is included in the global period?
The 0-day global period includes preoperative and postoperative care provided on the procedure date.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Medicare does not pay for an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
What documentation supports 28002 rather than a superficial abscess code?
Document the deep location beneath the fascia, the infected space treated, and operative findings supporting surgical drainage. A superficial skin or subcutaneous abscess is a different service.
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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