Billing code 25290: Tendon divisionMedicare rate & RVUs in Utah
Surgical division of one wrist or forearm flexor or extensor tendon to address contracture or tethering, reported for each tendon treated.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 25290 in Utah.
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 25290 covers
This service involves surgically dividing a flexor or extensor tendon in the wrist or forearm, typically to reduce tendon tightness contributing to a contracture or deformity. It is generally performed by an orthopedic or hand surgeon in an operating room. The operative report should identify the tendon and site and describe the reason for division; distinguish this procedure from tendon repair, lengthening, or freeing adhesions around an intact tendon.
Report the service for each tendon divided, supported by the operative documentation. CMS assigns 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 other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this service. Assistant-at-surgery payment is statutorily restricted, and 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.
25290 in Utah
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | Unavailable | $398.82 |
How the 25290 rate is calculated
Each of 25290’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 · 25290
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 5.29Practice expense 6.11Malpractice 1.01
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 25290
25290 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 25290
Tendon division
| 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 · 25290
Tendon division
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
25290 without 51 · national facility
$414.51
Tendon division
25290-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$207.26
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%).
25290 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
25290 vs 25280 vs 25295 vs 25260 vs 25270: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 25280Tendon adjustment
- Choose 25290 for division of the tendon. Choose 25280 when the surgeon performs tendon lengthening or shortening.
- 25295Tendon release
- 25295 describes freeing a tendon from adhesions to improve glide; 25290 describes dividing the tendon.
- 25260Flexor tendon repair
- 25260 is for primary repair of a flexor tendon. Use 25290 when the documented procedure is tendon division, not restoration of a lacerated tendon.
- 25270Extensor tendon repair
- 25270 is for primary repair of an extensor tendon. Use 25290 when the documented procedure is tendon division rather than repair.
25290 billing questions
How is this different from tendon lengthening or shortening?
This service reports tendon division. Use 25280 when the surgeon lengthens or shortens the tendon rather than dividing it.
How is this different from tenolysis?
Tenolysis, reported with 25295, frees a tendon from adhesions that restrict its glide. This code is for dividing the tendon itself.
How many units should be reported?
Report each tendon treated as supported by the operative note. Document the tendon, wrist or forearm site, and the procedure performed.
Is modifier 50 appropriate?
No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this service; document the treated tendon or tendons and report according to the code’s each-tendon basis.
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 or co-surgeon be paid for this procedure?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is statutorily restricted. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted under the CMS rules for this code.
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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