CPT code 27279: SI joint fusion, transarticular device placement2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Maryland
Reports minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion using device placement across the joint, with image guidance included when performed.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 27279 in Maryland.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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What 27279 covers
The surgeon accesses the sacroiliac joint through a percutaneous or minimally invasive approach and places one or more devices across the joint to promote fusion. Orthopedic and spine surgeons commonly perform this procedure in an operating room for patients with sacroiliac joint pain or dysfunction. Image guidance used to position the devices is part of the service described by this code.
Select this code when the operative method places devices transarticularly across the SI joint; document the approach, side, implant placement, and imaging used. For bilateral procedures, CMS applies modifier 50 and pays 150%. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to a 50% reduction. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is 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 27279 pays more and less in Maryland
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore area, MD | Unavailable | $805.74 |
| Rest of Maryland | Unavailable | $758.62 |
| Washington, DC area | Unavailable | $838.87 |
How the 27279 rate is calculated
Each of 27279’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 · 27279
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work11.83
11.83 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense8.26
8.26 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice2.62
2.62 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
22.7100
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$758.53
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 27279
27279 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 27279
SI joint fusion, transarticular device placement
| 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) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| 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 · 27279
SI joint fusion, transarticular device placement
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
27279 without 50 · national facility
$758.53
SI joint fusion, transarticular device placement
27279-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,137.80
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).
27279 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 27278SI joint fusionIntra-articular implants
- Choose 27279 for devices placed across the SI joint; 27278 describes intra-articular device placement.
- 27280SI joint fusionOpen, grafted, instrumented
- 27280 describes open SI joint arthrodesis. This code is for a percutaneous or minimally invasive device-based approach.
- 27299Unlisted pelvis/hip procedureCarrier priced
- Use 27299 only when the performed pelvis or hip joint procedure is not represented by a specific code such as 27279.
27279 billing questions
How does this differ from 27278?
This code describes devices placed across the SI joint. Code 27278 is the sibling code for placement of intra-articular devices.
Is image guidance separately reported?
Image guidance used for device placement is included in this service when performed.
How should bilateral SI joint fusion be reported?
CMS recognizes modifier 50 for bilateral reporting and pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be paid?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation.
What supports reporting this code?
Document the minimally invasive approach, the SI joint treated, transarticular device placement, and any image guidance used.
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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