CPT code 27310: Knee arthrotomy, exploration, drainage, or foreign body2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Delaware
Reports open knee-joint access to investigate a joint problem, drain infection, or remove an intra-articular foreign body during surgery.
In Delaware, Medicare pays $680.23 for 27310 in a facility. There’s no office rate.
Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 27310 nationwide
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
On this page 11 sections
What 27310 covers
An orthopedic surgeon opens the knee joint to inspect its interior, drain infected material, or remove a foreign object. A typical setting is the operating room, including surgery for a suspected or confirmed septic knee joint. The procedure is open: it is not the arthroscopic approach used to inspect or treat the joint through small portals.
Report 27310 when the operative work is open exploration, drainage, or foreign-body removal, and document the approach, indication, intra-articular findings, and work performed. The code has a 90-day global period, which 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%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; 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.
How Delaware compares for 27310
Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the facility rate for 27310 runs from $614.27 in Arkansas to $840.32 in Alaska. Delaware pays $680.23. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.
- Delaware · this page$680.23
- Los Angeles, CA · California$733.38+$53.15
- Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$766.88+$86.65
- Miami, FL · Florida$805.85+$125.62
- Chicago, IL · Illinois$781.49+$101.26
- Manhattan, NY · New York$797.81+$117.58
- Alaska · Alaska$840.32+$160.09
Other areas in Delaware first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.
Every other payment area
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| AlabamaAlabama | — | $622.48 |
| ArkansasArkansas | — | $614.27 |
| ArizonaArizona | — | $670.06 |
| Bakersfield, CACalifornia | — | $696.79 |
| Chico, CACalifornia | — | $691.14 |
| El Centro, CACalifornia | — | $691.48 |
| Fresno, CACalifornia | — | $691.14 |
| Hanford, CACalifornia | — | $691.14 |
| Madera, CACalifornia | — | $691.14 |
| Merced, CACalifornia | — | $691.14 |
| Modesto, CACalifornia | — | $691.14 |
| Napa, CACalifornia | — | $769.68 |
| Oxnard, CACalifornia | — | $726.04 |
| Redding, CACalifornia | — | $691.14 |
| Rest of CaliforniaCalifornia | — | $691.14 |
| Riverside, CACalifornia | — | $713.17 |
| Sacramento, CACalifornia | — | $717.09 |
| Salinas, CACalifornia | — | $714.28 |
| San Diego, CACalifornia | — | $725.28 |
| Marin County, CACalifornia | — | $803.88 |
| San Francisco, CACalifornia | — | $801.55 |
| San Benito County, CACalifornia | — | $823.47 |
| Santa Clara County, CACalifornia | — | $813.95 |
| San Luis Obispo, CACalifornia | — | $703.82 |
| Santa Cruz, CACalifornia | — | $727.54 |
| Santa Maria, CACalifornia | — | $715.37 |
| Santa Rosa, CACalifornia | — | $734.30 |
| Stockton, CACalifornia | — | $691.14 |
| Vallejo, CACalifornia | — | $766.32 |
| Visalia, CACalifornia | — | $691.14 |
| Yuba City, CACalifornia | — | $691.14 |
| ColoradoColorado | — | $696.85 |
| ConnecticutConnecticut | — | $732.66 |
| Fort Lauderdale, FLFlorida | — | $748.22 |
| Rest of FloridaFlorida | — | $710.52 |
| Atlanta, GAGeorgia | — | $708.52 |
| Rest of GeorgiaGeorgia | — | $670.35 |
| Hawaii, Guam, HIHawaii | — | $700.64 |
| IowaIowa | — | $622.70 |
| IdahoIdaho | — | $629.38 |
| East St. Louis, ILIllinois | — | $734.90 |
| Rest of IllinoisIllinois | — | $701.95 |
| Suburban Chicago, ILIllinois | — | $752.16 |
| IndianaIndiana | — | $632.34 |
| KansasKansas | — | $626.79 |
| KentuckyKentucky | — | $650.50 |
| New Orleans, LALouisiana | — | $680.97 |
| Rest of LouisianaLouisiana | — | $652.27 |
| Metropolitan Boston, MAMassachusetts | — | $752.10 |
| Rest of MassachusettsMassachusetts | — | $696.00 |
| Baltimore area, MDMaryland | — | $732.03 |
| Rest of MarylandMaryland | — | $690.24 |
| Rest of MaineMaine | — | $639.58 |
| Southern Maine, MEMaine | — | $661.14 |
| Detroit, MIMichigan | — | $725.71 |
| Rest of MichiganMichigan | — | $672.23 |
| MinnesotaMinnesota | — | $649.41 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City, MOMissouri | — | $669.49 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MOMissouri | — | $675.04 |
| Rest of MissouriMissouri | — | $646.58 |
| MississippiMississippi | — | $630.19 |
| MontanaMontana | — | $688.92 |
| North CarolinaNorth Carolina | — | $644.58 |
| North DakotaNorth Dakota | — | $648.39 |
| NebraskaNebraska | — | $623.76 |
| New HampshireNew Hampshire | — | $692.59 |
| Northern New JerseyNew Jersey | — | $761.42 |
| Rest of New JerseyNew Jersey | — | $735.86 |
| New MexicoNew Mexico | — | $678.34 |
| NevadaNevada | — | $677.92 |
| NYC suburbs and Long Island, NYNew York | — | $824.32 |
| Poughkeepsie and northern NYC suburbs, NYNew York | — | $746.11 |
| Queens, NYNew York | — | $793.84 |
| Rest of New YorkNew York | — | $653.98 |
| OhioOhio | — | $663.95 |
| OklahomaOklahoma | — | $642.23 |
| Portland, OROregon | — | $709.48 |
| Rest of OregonOregon | — | $667.54 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia, PAPennsylvania | — | $720.23 |
| Rest of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania | — | $661.11 |
| Puerto RicoPuerto Rico | — | $691.28 |
| Rhode IslandRhode Island | — | $697.59 |
| South CarolinaSouth Carolina | — | $656.38 |
| South DakotaSouth Dakota | — | $643.60 |
| TennesseeTennessee | — | $630.52 |
| Austin, TXTexas | — | $699.01 |
| Beaumont, TXTexas | — | $657.66 |
| Brazoria, TXTexas | — | $673.95 |
| Dallas, TXTexas | — | $681.09 |
| Fort Worth, TXTexas | — | $679.03 |
| Galveston, TXTexas | — | $677.82 |
| Houston, TXTexas | — | $715.35 |
| Rest of TexasTexas | — | $667.38 |
| UtahUtah | — | $664.38 |
| VirginiaVirginia | — | $663.92 |
| Virgin Islands, VIUnited States Virgin Islands | — | $691.28 |
| VermontVermont | — | $652.29 |
| Rest of WashingtonWashington | — | $692.56 |
| King County, WAWashington | — | $759.76 |
| WisconsinWisconsin | — | $629.29 |
| West VirginiaWest Virginia | — | $679.94 |
| WyomingWyoming | — | $671.26 |
27310 rates by state
Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.
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.
View every state and territory as a table
| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | No published base rate | 1 |
| AL | No published base rate | 1 |
| AR | No published base rate | 1 |
| AZ | No published base rate | 1 |
| CA | No published base rate | 29 |
| CO | No published base rate | 1 |
| CT | No published base rate | 1 |
| DC | No published base rate | 1 |
| DE | No published base rate | 1 |
| FL | No published base rate | 3 |
| GA | No published base rate | 2 |
| GU | No published base rate | 1 |
| HI | No published base rate | 1 |
| IA | No published base rate | 1 |
| ID | No published base rate | 1 |
| IL | No published base rate | 4 |
| IN | No published base rate | 1 |
| KS | No published base rate | 1 |
| KY | No published base rate | 1 |
| LA | No published base rate | 2 |
| MA | No published base rate | 2 |
| MD | No published base rate | 3 |
| ME | No published base rate | 2 |
| MI | No published base rate | 2 |
| MN | No published base rate | 1 |
| MO | No published base rate | 3 |
| MS | No published base rate | 1 |
| MT | No published base rate | 1 |
| NC | No published base rate | 1 |
| ND | No published base rate | 1 |
| NE | No published base rate | 1 |
| NH | No published base rate | 1 |
| NJ | No published base rate | 2 |
| NM | No published base rate | 1 |
| NV | No published base rate | 1 |
| NY | No published base rate | 5 |
| OH | No published base rate | 1 |
| OK | No published base rate | 1 |
| OR | No published base rate | 2 |
| PA | No published base rate | 2 |
| PR | No published base rate | 1 |
| RI | No published base rate | 1 |
| SC | No published base rate | 1 |
| SD | No published base rate | 1 |
| TN | No published base rate | 1 |
| TX | No published base rate | 8 |
| UT | No published base rate | 1 |
| VA | No published base rate | 2 |
| VI | No published base rate | 1 |
| VT | No published base rate | 1 |
| WA | No published base rate | 2 |
| WI | No published base rate | 1 |
| WV | No published base rate | 1 |
| WY | No published base rate | 1 |
How the 27310 rate is calculated
Each of 27310’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 · 27310
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work9.75
9.75 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense8.83
8.83 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice2.05
2.05 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
20.6300
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$689.06
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
The exact Delaware inputs and CMS source lines
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
2,833
- Code
- 27310
- Physician work
- 9.75
- Practice expense
- 8.83
- Malpractice
- 2.05
GPCI2026.csv
40
- Locality
- Delaware
- Physician work
- 1.005
- Practice expense
- 0.988
- Malpractice
- 0.899
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 9.75 | × 1.005 | 9.7987 |
| Practice expense | 8.83 | × 0.988 | 8.7240 |
| Malpractice | 2.05 | × 0.899 | 1.8429 |
| Total RVUs | 20.3657 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Facility rate, Delaware$680.23
Facility: (9.75 × 1.005 + 8.83 × 0.988 + 2.05 × 0.899) × $33.4009 = $680.23
Payment rules and modifiers for 27310
27310 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 27310
Knee arthrotomy, exploration, drainage, or foreign body
| 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 · 27310
Knee arthrotomy, exploration, drainage, or foreign body
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
27310 without 50 · national facility
$689.06
Knee arthrotomy, exploration, drainage, or foreign body
27310-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,033.59
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).
How 27310 has changed in Delaware
27310 · Office / nonfacility
Rate unavailable
Effective 2026-10-01
A rate is unavailable in one of these releases, so a change cannot be calculated.
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
| Effective from | Office | Facility | CMS release |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $680.23 | RVU26D |
| 2026-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $680.23 | RVU26C |
| 2026-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $680.23 | RVU26B |
| 2026-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $680.23 | RVU26A |
| 2025-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $724.02 | RVU25D |
| 2025-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $724.02 | RVU25C |
| 2025-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $724.02 | RVU25B |
| 2025-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $724.02 | RVU25A |
| 2024-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $738.78 | RVU24D |
| 2024-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $738.78 | RVU24C |
| 2024-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $738.78 | RVU24B |
| 2024-03-09 | Not available in this setting | $738.78 | RVU24AR |
| 2024-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $726.72 | RVU24A |
| 2023-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $749.16 | RVU23D |
| 2023-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $749.16 | RVU23C |
| 2023-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $749.16 | RVU23B |
| 2023-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $749.16 | RVU23A |
| 2022-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $758.46 | RVU22D |
| 2022-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $758.46 | RVU22C |
| 2022-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $758.46 | RVU22B |
| 2022-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $758.46 | RVU22A |
| 2021-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $758.91 | RVU21D |
| 2021-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $758.91 | RVU21C |
| 2021-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $758.91 | RVU21B |
| 2021-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $758.91 | RVU21A |
| 2020-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $772.58 | RVU20D |
| 2020-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $772.58 | RVU20C |
| 2020-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $772.58 | RVU20B |
| 2020-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $772.58 | RVU20A |
| 2019-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $775.85 | RVU19D |
| 2019-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $775.85 | RVU19C |
| 2019-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $775.85 | RVU19B |
| 2019-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $775.85 | RVU19A |
| 2018-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $774.19 | RVU18D |
| 2018-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $774.19 | RVU18C |
| 2018-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $774.19 | RVU18B |
| 2018-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $774.19 | RVU18AR1 |
| 2017-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $772.15 | RVU17D |
| 2017-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $772.15 | RVU17C |
| 2017-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $772.15 | RVU17B |
| 2017-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $772.15 | RVU17A |
| 2016-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $772.49 | RVU16D |
| 2016-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $772.49 | RVU16C |
| 2016-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $772.49 | RVU16B |
| 2016-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $772.49 | RVU16A |
| 2015-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $776.43 | RVU15D |
| 2015-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $776.43 | RVU15C |
| 2015-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $772.56 | RVU15B |
| 2015-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $772.56 | RVU15A |
| 2014-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $754.88 | RVU14D |
| 2014-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $754.88 | RVU14C |
| 2014-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $754.88 | RVU14B |
| 2014-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $754.88 | RVU14A |
| 2013-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $736.16 | RVU13D |
| 2013-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $736.16 | RVU13C |
| 2013-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $736.16 | RVU13B |
| 2013-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $736.16 | RVU13AR |
Where the Delaware rate applies
Delaware is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 79 cities and communities in Delaware. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.
- Arden
- Ardencroft
- Ardentown
- Bear
- Bellefonte
- Bethany Beach
- Bethel
- Blades
27310 billing questions
When is 27310 a better fit than knee arthroscopy?
Use 27310 for the described open joint approach. Arthroscopic drainage or treatment uses an arthroscopy code when that method is performed.
How does 27310 differ from an open knee-joint biopsy?
27310 represents exploration, drainage, or foreign-body removal. When the operative purpose is obtaining a synovial or other joint biopsy, consider 27330 instead.
Does the 90-day global include routine postoperative care?
Yes. The global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.
How is bilateral reporting handled?
For bilateral knee procedures, modifier 50 is paid at 150% under the CMS bilateral rule for this code.
What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction.
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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