CPT code 28296 represents surgical correction of a bunion through a distal metatarsal osteotomy, often including removal of sesamoid bones. This code is used to bill for operative treatment of hallux valgus deformity that produces a symptomatic bony prominence at the first metatarsophalangeal joint. Nationally, procedures for bunion correction are common in orthopedic and podiatric practice and have implications for surgical utilization, coding consistency, and payer coverage policies.

Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The publication provides a concise overview of clinical context, typical sites of service (hospital outpatient departments and ambulatory surgery centers), and service line classification as foot/forefoot orthopedic surgery.

Readers will learn: the clinical scope of CPT code 28296, how it is positioned relative to related foot procedures, common billing considerations, and the types of benchmarks and policy topics typically relevant to payer coverage and reimbursement discussions. Data not available in the input for associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, and related codes are noted where applicable.