Surgical division of the plantar fascia and intrinsic foot musculature, classically performed as a Steindler stripping procedure to relieve chronic plantar pain and contracture.

Verified May 8, 2026 · 5 sources ↓

Medicare: $599.21
Total RVUs: 17.94
Global, days: 90
Region: Foot & ankle

Drawn from CMSMolinahealthcareAssociationdatabaseAAPCFindacode

Documentation requirements

What must appear in the operative or office note to support the claim.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 5 cited references ↓

Confirm open approach explicitly — document that the plantar fascia and intrinsic musculature were both divided, not just the fascia alone
Name the specific technique (e.g., Steindler stripping) and describe the anatomic extent of the release in the operative body text, not only in the title
Record failure of conservative treatment (orthotics, physical therapy, injections) to support medical necessity
Indicate laterality (left, right, or bilateral) in both the operative note and the diagnosis coding
Document post-operative weight-bearing restrictions and any cast or boot application separately if those services are to be billed under the casting codes

Applicable modifiers

Modifiers commonly billed with this code.

Source · AMA CPT modifier descriptors · CMS NCCI Policy Manual

22 Increased complexity 24 Unrelated E/M during global 50 Bilateral procedure 51 Multiple procedures 58 Staged or related 59 Distinct service 78 Unplanned return — related 79 Unrelated during global LT Left side RT Right side

What this code covers

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 5 cited references ↓

CPT 28250 covers open division of the plantar fascia and underlying foot muscles at the calcaneal origin — the technique most commonly called Steindler stripping. It is deployed for chronic, refractory plantar heel pain or cavus-foot contracture when conservative care and less-invasive releases have failed. The code is designated a 'separate procedure,' meaning it bundles into more complex reconstructive foot surgery when performed as a component of that work; bill it standalone only when it is the definitive service or when performed with a truly unrelated procedure (append modifier 59 or an X-modifier in that case).

Distinguish 28250 precisely from its neighbors: 28008 is a fasciotomy of the foot or toe without the muscle-stripping component; 28060 and 28062 are partial and radical plantar fasciectomies (excision, not division); and 29893 is the endoscopic fasciotomy. Selecting the wrong code is the most common audit finding on plantar-heel claims. The operative note must name the specific structures divided and confirm the open approach — 'Steindler stripping' in the note title alone is not sufficient if the body of the note does not describe release of both fascia and muscle.

The 90-day global period governs all routine post-op care through day 90. Unrelated office visits in that window require modifier 24; a staged or planned second procedure needs modifier 58; an unplanned return to the OR for a related complication uses modifier 78. Bilateral cases are billed with modifier 50. The separate-procedure designation also means NCCI may bundle 28250 when it is billed same-session with a more comprehensive foot reconstruction — confirm NCCI edits before appending modifier 59.

RVU & reimbursement

Component RVUs and Medicare national rate. Actual payment varies by GPCI locality.

Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026

Work RVU	5.91
Practice expense RVU	11.2
Malpractice RVU	0.83
Total RVU	17.94
Medicare national rate	$599.21
Global period	90 days

Payment by site of service

Medicare pays different rates by setting. HOPD typically pays substantially more than ASC for the same procedure.

Source · CMS OPPS Addendum B·ASC HCPCS payment rates·2026

Setting	Medicare rate (national)
Office (PFS non-facility) Procedure performed in physician's office	$599.21
HOPD (APC 5113) Hospital outpatient department	$3,342.87
ASC (PI A2) Ambulatory surgical center (freestanding)	$1,644.87

Common denial reasons

The recurring reasons claims for CPT 28250 get rejected.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in CMS NCCI edits, AAOS coding appeals, and cited references ↓

Separate-procedure bundling when 28250 is billed alongside a more comprehensive foot reconstruction without modifier 59 or an X-modifier
Code mismatch — payer expects 29893 (endoscopic) or 28060/28062 (fasciectomy) and flags 28250 as inconsistent with the diagnosis or clinical notes
Medical necessity denied for lack of documented conservative treatment failure prior to surgical intervention
Missing laterality modifier causing claim to reject on payers that require LT or RT for unilateral foot procedures
Global-period denial when a routine post-op visit is billed without modifier 24 within the 90-day window

Frequently asked questions

Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 5 cited references ↓

01What is the difference between CPT 28250 and 29893?

28250 is an open division of the plantar fascia AND intrinsic foot muscles (Steindler stripping). 29893 is an endoscopic plantar fasciotomy — fascia only, no muscle component, minimally invasive approach. Billing the wrong code based on the technique used is a top audit finding.

02When does the separate-procedure designation matter for billing 28250?

When 28250 is performed as part of a more complex foot reconstruction, it bundles and is not separately reportable. Bill it standalone when it is the only procedure, or append modifier 59 (or an X-modifier) when it is performed with a genuinely unrelated procedure in the same session. Confirm NCCI edits first.

03Does 28250 require modifier LT or RT?

Most payers require laterality modifiers for foot procedures. Append LT or RT for unilateral cases. For bilateral same-session Steindler stripping, use modifier 50 and expect approximately 150% of the single-procedure allowable from Medicare.

04What ICD-10 codes typically support 28250?

M72.2 (plantar fascial fibromatosis) is the most-cited supporting diagnosis per payer policy. Chronic plantar fasciitis (M72.2) and cavus foot deformity codes are also used. The diagnosis must reflect a condition requiring open fascial and muscle release, not just fasciotomy.

05How does the 90-day global period affect post-op billing for 28250?

All routine follow-up through day 90 is included. Append modifier 24 on E/M visits for unrelated conditions in that window, modifier 58 for a planned staged procedure, and modifier 78 for an unplanned return to the OR for a related complication. Modifier 79 covers an unrelated OR procedure within the global.

06Can 28250 be billed on the same day as 28060 or 28062?

These codes describe overlapping anatomy and intent. Billing 28250 alongside 28060 or 28062 for the same foot in the same session will likely trigger an NCCI bundling edit. Check current NCCI tables before billing both; a modifier 59 does not automatically override a column-one/column-two edit.

Sources & references

Editorial content was developed using the following public sources. Last verified May 8, 2026.

Mira AI Scribe

Mira's AI scribe captures the specific structures released (plantar fascia and intrinsic musculature), confirms the open approach versus endoscopic, documents the Steindler stripping technique by name in the operative body text, and records laterality at time of dictation. This prevents the most common audit flag on plantar-heel claims: operative notes that name the procedure in the heading but fail to describe fascial and muscle division in the body, triggering downcodes to 28060 or outright medical-necessity denials.

See how Mira captures CPT 28250 documentation