Billing code 26060: Tendon tenotomyMedicare rate & RVUs in Washington
Reports open division of a finger flexor or extensor tendon when the tendon itself is surgically released to address a contracture or deformity.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 26060 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 26060 covers
A hand surgeon makes an operative incision to divide a flexor or extensor tendon in a finger, typically to address a tendon-related contracture or deformity. The procedure concerns the tendon itself, rather than the surrounding tendon sheath. It may be performed in a hospital or an outpatient surgical setting; the operative report should identify the finger and tendon treated and describe the reason for the tendon division.
Report the code for each tendon treated, with documentation supporting the open approach and the specific tendon divided. It is distinct from releasing a tendon sheath for trigger finger. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; 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 26060 pays more and less in Washington
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rest Of Washington | Unavailable | $248.21 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | Unavailable | $275.81 |
How the 26060 rate is calculated
Each of 26060’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 · 26060
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work2.84
2.84 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense4.00
4.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.45
0.45 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
7.2900
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$243.49
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 26060
26060 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 26060
Tendon tenotomy
| 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) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| 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 · 26060
Tendon tenotomy
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
26060 without 51 · national facility
$243.49
Tendon tenotomy
26060-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$121.75
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%).
26060 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 26055Trigger finger release
- Choose 26060 when the surgeon divides the finger tendon itself. Choose 26055 when the procedure opens the tendon sheath, as in a trigger-finger release.
- 26040Palm contracture release
- 26040 describes a percutaneous release of palmar fascia. It is not the code for open division of a finger tendon.
- 26045Palmar release
- 26045 describes an open partial release of palmar fascia. Use 26060 when the operative target is the finger tendon rather than the fascia.
26060 billing questions
How is this different from 26055?
26060 is for dividing a finger tendon itself. Code 26055 is for opening the tendon sheath, such as in a trigger-finger release; the operative note should show which structure was treated.
How many units should be reported?
The code is reported for each tendon treated. Document the finger and tendon for every reported unit.
What documentation supports reporting this code?
The operative report should identify the open approach, the finger and flexor or extensor tendon treated, and the clinical reason for dividing that tendon.
Can modifier 50 be used when both hands are treated?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code. Report the services according to the documented tendon procedures rather than appending modifier 50.
How does the global period affect related postoperative care?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. Medicare applies the standard multiple procedure reduction when other procedures are performed in the same session.
When is an assistant at surgery payable?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is allowed only when medical necessity is documented. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted 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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