Billing code 28008: Fascia releaseMedicare rate & RVUs in Washington
Reports surgical incision and release of foot fascia, commonly a plantar fasciotomy for persistent plantar fascial symptoms when the fascia is released rather than excised.
Medicare pays $434.38–$485.65 for 28008 in the office in Washington, from Rest Of Washington to Seattle (King Cnty). 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 28008 covers
This service involves surgically incising foot fascia to release tension; a familiar example is plantar fasciotomy for persistent plantar fasciitis. An orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon or podiatric surgeon typically performs it in an operating room or ambulatory surgery setting. The operative technique is a release, not removal of a portion or all of the plantar fascia.
Select the code when the operative report supports an incision or release of fascia and identifies the treated site and side. Document the indication and the actual procedure performed; distinguish release from partial or more extensive fascial excision. 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% reduction. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. CMS does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code, and co-surgeon and team-surgery billing 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 28008 pays more and less in Washington
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rest Of Washington | $434.38 | $280.69 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $485.65 | $306.55 |
How the 28008 rate is calculated
Each of 28008’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 · 28008
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work4.48
4.48 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense7.73
7.73 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.43
0.43 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
12.6400
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$422.19
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 28008
28008 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 28008
Fascia 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 · 28008
Fascia 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
28008 without 50 · national office
$422.19
Fascia release
28008-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$633.29
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).
28008 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 28060Plantar fascia surgery
- Choose 28060 when the surgeon partially removes plantar fascia. Choose 28008 when the documented work is an incision and release without partial fascial excision.
- 28062Plantar fasciectomy
- 28062 describes more extensive removal of plantar fascia. It is not the choice for a release performed by incision alone.
- 28250Foot fascia surgery
- 28250 describes division of plantar fascia and muscle, including Steindler stripping. 28008 is for incision of foot fascia without that broader muscle procedure.
28008 billing questions
How is this code different from 28060?
This code represents incision and release of foot fascia. 28060 represents partial removal of plantar fascia, so the operative technique—not just the diagnosis—determines the choice.
What documentation supports reporting the release?
The operative report should identify the fascia and side treated and describe the incision or release performed. It should make clear that fascia was released rather than excised.
How does the 90-day global period affect postoperative care?
The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global period.
How should bilateral procedures and other same-session procedures be handled?
CMS pays bilateral reporting with modifier 50 at 150%. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others are subject to the standard 50% reduction.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
CMS does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeon and team-surgery billing 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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