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CPT code 27301: Deep drainage, thigh or knee region2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Reports open drainage of a deep abscess, bursa, or hematoma in the thigh or knee region, rather than a superficial skin collection.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality4.5K Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $817.80 for 27301 in the office and $540.80 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$817.80Office (non-facility)
$540.80Hospital or facility
+13.6%vs the national office rate ($720.12)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 27301 nationwide

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

We’ll open 27301 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 27301 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 27301 covers

A surgeon opens the deep tissue planes of the thigh or knee region to evacuate a collection such as an abscess, infected bursa, or hematoma. Orthopedic surgeons commonly perform this service in an operating room, although the appropriate setting depends on the patient and the collection. The operative report should establish the site and depth and describe the collection and its drainage. A superficial skin abscess, a collection within bone, and a knee-joint procedure represent different services.

Report the code when the documented work is deep incision and drainage in the thigh or knee region, not excision of a mass or drainage limited to the skin. This major surgery code includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in the same 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%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery; co-surgeons and team surgery 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.

How Washington, DC area compares for 27301

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 27301 runs from $633.17 in Arkansas to $921.54 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $817.80. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

27301 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$817.80
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$795.59−$22.21
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$812.17−$5.63
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$786.21−$31.59
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$835.54+$17.74
  6. Alaska · Alaska$838.25+$20.45
  7. Alabama · Alabama$642.84−$174.96

Other areas in District of Columbia first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

27301 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$633.17$431.18
ArizonaArizona$699.21$471.36
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$748.83$491.12
Chico, CACalifornia$744.88$487.16
El Centro, CACalifornia$745.12$487.40
Fresno, CACalifornia$744.88$487.16
Hanford, CACalifornia$744.88$487.16
Madera, CACalifornia$744.88$487.16

27301 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

$633.17

$838.25

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
27301 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$838.251
AL$642.841
AR$633.171
AZ$699.211
CA$744.88–$921.5429
CO$741.121
CT$769.391
DC$817.801
DE$710.951
FL$724.46–$812.173
GA$680.62–$737.672
GU$761.701
HI$761.701
IA$652.761
ID$658.681
IL$707.94–$786.214
IN$662.461
KS$652.951
KY$665.951
LA$666.21–$700.042
MA$737.81–$811.432
MD$723.80–$817.803
ME$665.84–$698.312
MI$687.07–$737.322
MN$699.351
MO$656.60–$698.563
MS$644.851
MT$720.031
NC$672.531
ND$691.551
NE$655.461
NH$732.611
NJ$775.13–$809.502
NM$692.341
NV$712.541
NY$683.28–$860.765
OH$681.251
OK$661.111
OR$704.03–$761.432
PA$680.48–$751.882
PR$724.371
RI$734.011
SC$678.611
SD$688.191
TN$656.791
TX$676.10–$741.258
UT$688.141
VA$698.31–$817.802
VI$724.371
VT$691.851
WA$735.41–$824.792
WI$667.891
WV$681.741
WY$707.621

See 27301 in every payment locality

How the 27301 rate is calculated

Each of 27301’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 · 27301

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work6.61

6.61 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense13.51

13.51 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice1.44

1.44 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

21.5600

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$720.12

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

The exact Washington, DC area inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

2,828

Code
27301
Physician work
6.61
Practice expense
13.51
Malpractice
1.44

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 27301 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work6.61× 1.0546.9669
Practice expense13.51× 1.17815.9148
Malpractice1.44× 1.1131.6027
Total RVUs24.4844
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$817.80

Office: (6.61 × 1.054 + 13.51 × 1.178 + 1.44 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $817.80

Facility: (6.61 × 1.054 + 6.47 × 1.178 + 1.44 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $540.80

Open 27301 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 27301

27301 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 27301

Deep drainage, thigh or knee region

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period090Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.10/0.69/0.21Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 27301

Deep drainage, thigh or knee region

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.

  • 24Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78Unplanned return to the operating room for a related complication
SurgeryVisit
Sep 23, 2026Jan 10, 2027

Pre-op dayGlobal period

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

27301 without 50 · national office

$720.12

Deep drainage, thigh or knee region

27301-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$1,080.18

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).

When to use modifier 50

Codes related to 27301

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

Codes related to 27301
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Used instead
10060Abscess drainage, simple, single abscessUsed for incision and drainage of a superficial cutaneous abscess rather than a deep thigh or knee collection.$146.27
10061Abscess drainage, complex or multipleUsed for complicated or multiple superficial abscess drainage, not deep drainage in the thigh or knee region.$248.68
27303Bone drainage, femur or knee regionApplies when the drained lesion is in bone rather than deep soft tissue or a bursa.No office rate
27310Knee arthrotomy, exploration, drainage, or foreign bodyApplies to operative exploration or treatment within the knee joint rather than a deep extra-articular collection.No office rate

How 27301 has changed in Washington, DC area

27301 · Office / nonfacility

$817.80

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $61.95 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $755.85 to $817.80 (8.2%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $755.85changed to$817.80

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 6.78 changed to 6.61
    • Practice expense RVU 12.19 changed to 13.51
    • Malpractice RVU 1.43 changed to 1.44
    • Work GPCI 1.057 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.192 changed to 1.178
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.168 changed to 1.113

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $778.61changed to$755.85

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Malpractice RVU 1.45 changed to 1.43

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $765.90changed to$778.61

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $800.45changed to$765.90

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 12.15 changed to 12.19
    • Malpractice RVU 1.39 changed to 1.45
    • Work GPCI 1.056 changed to 1.057
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.214 changed to 1.192
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.231 changed to 1.168

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $823.76changed to$800.45

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 11.98 changed to 12.15
    • Malpractice RVU 1.43 changed to 1.39
    • Work GPCI 1.054 changed to 1.056
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.236 changed to 1.214
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.294 changed to 1.231

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $833.16changed to$823.76

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 12.05 changed to 11.98
    • Malpractice RVU 1.42 changed to 1.43

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $816.89changed to$833.16

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 11.27 changed to 12.05
    • Malpractice RVU 1.38 changed to 1.42
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.221 changed to 1.236
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.277 changed to 1.294

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $804.91changed to$816.89

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 11.19 changed to 11.27
    • Malpractice RVU 1.40 changed to 1.38
    • Work GPCI 1.045 changed to 1.049
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.221
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.261 changed to 1.277

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $802.77changed to$804.91

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 11.14 changed to 11.19
    • Malpractice RVU 1.42 changed to 1.40

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $795.05changed to$802.77

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 10.99 changed to 11.14
    • Work GPCI 1.048 changed to 1.045
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.271 changed to 1.261

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $794.39changed to$795.05

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 10.98 changed to 10.99
    • Malpractice RVU 1.43 changed to 1.42
    • Work GPCI 1.051 changed to 1.048
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.280 changed to 1.271

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $785.89changed to$794.39

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 10.76 changed to 10.98
    • Malpractice RVU 1.39 changed to 1.43

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $781.98changed to$785.89

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $765.41changed to$781.98

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 10.54 changed to 10.76
    • Malpractice RVU 1.31 changed to 1.39
    • Work GPCI 1.050 changed to 1.051
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.202 changed to 1.205
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.280

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $788.25changed to$765.41

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 12.11 changed to 10.54
    • Malpractice RVU 1.37 changed to 1.31
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.050
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.198 changed to 1.202
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.130 changed to 1.205

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $788.25

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$817.80$540.80RVU26D
2026-07-01$817.80$540.80RVU26C
2026-04-01$817.80$540.80RVU26B
2026-01-01$817.80$540.80RVU26A
2025-10-01$755.85$571.54RVU25D
2025-07-01$755.85$571.54RVU25C
2025-04-01$755.85$571.54RVU25B
2025-01-01$755.85$571.54RVU25A
2024-10-01$778.61$583.00RVU24D
2024-07-01$778.61$583.00RVU24C
2024-04-01$778.61$583.00RVU24B
2024-03-09$778.61$583.00RVU24AR
2024-01-01$765.90$573.48RVU24A
2023-10-01$800.45$593.93RVU23D
2023-07-01$800.45$593.93RVU23C
2023-04-01$800.45$593.93RVU23B
2023-01-01$800.45$593.93RVU23A
2022-10-01$823.76$606.04RVU22D
2022-07-01$823.76$606.04RVU22C
2022-04-01$823.76$606.04RVU22B
2022-01-01$823.76$606.04RVU22A
2021-10-01$833.16$605.44RVU21D
2021-07-01$833.16$605.44RVU21C
2021-04-01$833.16$605.44RVU21B
2021-01-01$833.16$605.44RVU21A
2020-10-01$816.89$601.85RVU20D
2020-07-01$816.89$601.85RVU20C
2020-04-01$816.89$601.85RVU20B
2020-01-01$816.89$601.85RVU20A
2019-10-01$804.91$593.42RVU19D
2019-07-01$804.91$593.42RVU19C
2019-04-01$804.91$593.42RVU19B
2019-01-01$804.91$593.42RVU19A
2018-10-01$802.77$592.38RVU18D
2018-07-01$802.77$592.38RVU18C
2018-04-01$802.77$592.38RVU18B
2018-01-01$802.77$592.38RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$795.05$588.33RVU17D
2017-07-01$795.05$588.33RVU17C
2017-04-01$795.05$588.33RVU17B
2017-01-01$795.05$588.33RVU17A
2016-10-01$794.39$588.16RVU16D
2016-07-01$794.39$588.16RVU16C
2016-04-01$794.39$588.16RVU16B
2016-01-01$794.39$588.16RVU16A
2015-10-01$785.89$582.82RVU15D
2015-07-01$785.89$582.82RVU15C
2015-04-01$781.98$579.92RVU15B
2015-01-01$781.98$579.92RVU15A
2014-10-01$765.41$569.92RVU14D
2014-07-01$765.41$569.92RVU14C
2014-04-01$765.41$569.92RVU14B
2014-01-01$765.41$569.92RVU14A
2013-10-01$788.25$571.41RVU13D
2013-07-01$788.25$571.41RVU13C
2013-04-01$788.25$571.41RVU13B
2013-01-01$788.25$571.41RVU13AR

Price 27301 for an earlier date of service

Where the Washington, DC area rate applies

Washington, DC area is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1 cities and communities in District of Columbia. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Washington

Browse all communities in District of Columbia

27301 billing questions

How does this differ from drainage of a superficial abscess?

This code is for a deep collection in the thigh or knee region. A collection confined to the skin or superficial tissue is considered under the applicable superficial abscess drainage code.

What documentation supports reporting this code?

Document the thigh or knee location, the deep tissue site, the type of collection, and the incision-and-drainage work performed. The record should distinguish a deep soft-tissue or bursal collection from a joint or bone process.

Can another drainage code be reported for the same collection?

Do not report a second drainage code for the same collection simply to represent its incision or evacuation. The operative documentation should identify any distinct, separately treated site.

How is bilateral treatment reported?

For bilateral procedures reported with modifier 50, CMS pays 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 billed for this procedure?

CMS does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery 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
RVUs for 27301PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,828 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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