Billing code 25000: Tendon releaseMedicare rate & RVUs in Washington
Releases a constricted extensor tendon sheath at the wrist, most commonly to treat De Quervain tenosynovitis after operative treatment is selected.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 25000 in Washington.
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 25000 covers
This operation opens the constricted sheath around wrist extensor tendons to relieve impaired tendon gliding, most often for De Quervain tenosynovitis at the radial wrist. An orthopedic or hand surgeon typically performs it in an operating room or ambulatory surgery setting. The operative work may include releasing a separate tendon subcompartment when present; the documented procedure should reflect what was actually treated.
Report the code when the surgeon performs the wrist extensor sheath release, not for a tendon-sheath injection or a release at a different site. The operative note should identify the wrist and side, the condition prompting surgery, and the sheath release performed. Medicare 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 others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is 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.
Where 25000 pays more and less in Washington
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rest Of Washington | Unavailable | $347.33 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | Unavailable | $388.12 |
How the 25000 rate is calculated
Each of 25000’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 · 25000
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work3.46
3.46 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense6.07
6.07 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.66
0.66 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
10.1900
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$340.36
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 25000
25000 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 25000
Tendon release
| 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 · 25000
Tendon release
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
25000 without 50 · national facility
$340.36
Tendon release
25000-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$510.54
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).
25000 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 25001Tendon sheath incision
- Use 25000 for the wrist extensor sheath release; 25001 targets the flexor carpi radialis tendon sheath.
- 26055Trigger finger release
- Code 26055 is for release of a finger or thumb tendon sheath, commonly for trigger digit. Code 25000 targets the wrist extensor sheath.
- 25118Tendon sheath excision
- Code 25118 describes extensor tendon-sheath synovectomy at the wrist. Choose based on whether the documented operation removes synovial tissue or releases a constricted sheath.
25000 billing questions
When is this code appropriate for De Quervain tenosynovitis?
Use it when the surgeon releases the wrist extensor tendon sheath to treat the condition. A tendon-sheath injection alone is not this operation.
How does this differ from 25001?
Code 25000 describes release of a wrist extensor tendon sheath. Code 25001 concerns the flexor carpi radialis tendon sheath, a different tendon and operative target.
Does the code include related postoperative care?
Yes. Its 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How is bilateral surgery reported?
CMS identifies this as a bilateral procedure; when both sides are treated, modifier 50 is paid at 150%.
What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?
Under the standard multiple procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are paid at 50%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted, and 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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