CPT code 27280: SI joint fusion, open, grafted, instrumented2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $1,283.60 for 27280 nationally in a facility.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 27280 covers

This service is an open operation to fuse the sacroiliac joint. The surgeon exposes the joint, prepares the opposing surfaces for fusion, places bone graft, and uses instrumentation to support the construct. It is commonly performed by an orthopedic or spine surgeon in a hospital operating room for a patient undergoing surgical treatment of sacroiliac joint disease or instability.

Select this code when the operative report supports an open approach with graft and instrumentation; distinguish it from percutaneous or minimally invasive SI joint fusion codes based on the documented technique and implant placement. Documentation should identify the treated side, approach, joint preparation, graft use, and instrumentation. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; 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 27280 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

27280 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

How the 27280 rate is calculated

Each of 27280’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 27280

27280 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 50

27280 compared with similar codes

How to choose

27278SI joint fusionIntra-articular implants

This code describes open fusion with graft and instrumentation. Code 27278 is for percutaneous or minimally invasive fusion with intra-articular implant placement.

27279SI joint fusionTransarticular device placement

Choose this code for the open, grafted procedure. Code 27279 describes percutaneous or minimally invasive fusion using a transfixing device.

27299Unlisted pelvis/hip procedureCarrier priced

Code 27299 is for an unlisted pelvis or hip joint procedure when no specific code describes the service; ordinary open SI joint fusion is specifically described by this code.

Codes related to 27280

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates