CPT code 27425: Patellar release, open lateral retinacular release2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California
Open lateral retinacular release divides tight tissue along the outer patella to address excessive lateral restraint or patellar maltracking.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 27425 in California.
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 27425 covers
The surgeon exposes and releases tight tissue along the outside of the kneecap through an open approach, reducing excessive lateral pull or restraint. Orthopedic surgeons commonly perform the procedure for patellar tilt or maltracking associated with a tight lateral retinaculum, often in a hospital operating room. The operative report should establish the indication and describe the open exposure and release performed.
Report 27425 when the documented service is an open lateral retinacular release; an arthroscopic release is represented by a different code. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. When other procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction. For bilateral release reported with modifier 50, Medicare pays 150%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery; 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 27425 pays more and less in California
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
29 of 29 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | Unavailable | $453.83 |
| Chico, CA | Unavailable | $450.77 |
| El Centro, CA | Unavailable | $450.96 |
| Fresno, CA | Unavailable | $450.77 |
| Hanford, CA | Unavailable | $450.77 |
| Los Angeles, CA | Unavailable | $479.76 |
| Madera, CA | Unavailable | $450.77 |
| Marin County, CA | Unavailable | $533.88 |
| Merced, CA | Unavailable | $450.77 |
| Modesto, CA | Unavailable | $450.77 |
| Napa, CA | Unavailable | $508.91 |
| Oxnard, CA | Unavailable | $475.72 |
| Redding, CA | Unavailable | $450.77 |
| Rest of California | Unavailable | $450.77 |
| Riverside, CA | Unavailable | $462.70 |
| Sacramento, CA | Unavailable | $469.53 |
| Salinas, CA | Unavailable | $467.73 |
| San Benito County, CA | Unavailable | $546.74 |
| San Diego, CA | Unavailable | $476.29 |
| San Francisco, CA | Unavailable | $532.62 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | Unavailable | $460.67 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | Unavailable | $541.58 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | Unavailable | $478.86 |
| Santa Maria, CA | Unavailable | $468.81 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | Unavailable | $483.43 |
| Stockton, CA | Unavailable | $450.77 |
| Vallejo, CA | Unavailable | $507.09 |
| Visalia, CA | Unavailable | $450.77 |
| Yuba City, CA | Unavailable | $450.77 |
How the 27425 rate is calculated
Each of 27425’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 · 27425
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work5.26
5.26 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense6.89
6.89 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.11
1.11 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
13.2600
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$442.90
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 27425
27425 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 27425
Patellar release, open lateral retinacular release
| 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) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| 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 · 27425
Patellar release, open lateral retinacular release
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
27425 without 50 · national facility
$442.90
Patellar release, open lateral retinacular release
27425-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$664.35
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).
27425 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 29873Knee arthroscopyArthroscopic lateral release
- Both describe lateral retinacular release, but 27425 is open and 29873 is arthroscopic. Select according to the approach documented.
- 27420Patellar reconstructionWithout extensor realignment
- 27425 releases lateral soft tissue. 27420 describes reconstruction for a dislocating patella, a different operation for patellar instability.
- 27422Patellar reconstructionWith extensor realignment
- 27425 is an isolated open lateral release; 27422 involves patellar reconstruction with extensor mechanism realignment.
- 27418TubercleplastyAnterior tibial tubercle advancement
- 27425 releases the lateral retinaculum. 27418 is a tibial tubercleplasty, a bony procedure used to address patellar alignment.
27425 billing questions
How does 27425 differ from the arthroscopic lateral release code?
27425 is for an open approach. For an arthroscopic lateral retinacular release, consider 29873.
What documentation supports reporting 27425?
Document the patellar problem prompting surgery and the open exposure and lateral retinacular release actually performed. The operative note should distinguish the release from any separately described patellar or bony procedure.
Can modifier 50 be used for release on both knees?
CMS identifies 27425 as a bilateral procedure. When both sides are treated and modifier 50 is reported, Medicare pays 150%.
What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?
Under the standard multiple procedure rule, Medicare pays the highest-valued procedure in full and pays other procedures at 50%.
Is an assistant or co-surgeon payable for 27425?
Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeons are paid only with supporting documentation; team surgery is 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
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