CPT code 27425: Patellar release, open lateral retinacular release2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Montana
Open lateral retinacular release divides tight tissue along the outer patella to address excessive lateral restraint or patellar maltracking.
In Montana, Medicare pays $442.82 for 27425 in a facility. There’s no office rate.
Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 27425 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 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.
How Montana compares for 27425
Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the facility rate for 27425 runs from $392.47 in Arkansas to $546.74 in San Benito County, CA. Montana pays $442.82. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.
- Montana · this page$442.82
- Los Angeles, CA · California$479.76+$36.94
- Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$497.54+$54.72
- Miami, FL · Florida$509.02+$66.20
- Chicago, IL · Illinois$493.29+$50.47
- Manhattan, NY · New York$513.15+$70.33
- Alaska · Alaska$529.05+$86.23
Other areas in Montana first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.
Every other payment area
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| AlabamaAlabama | — | $398.04 |
| ArkansasArkansas | — | $392.47 |
| ArizonaArizona | — | $430.42 |
| Bakersfield, CACalifornia | — | $453.83 |
| Chico, CACalifornia | — | $450.77 |
| El Centro, CACalifornia | — | $450.96 |
| Fresno, CACalifornia | — | $450.77 |
| Hanford, CACalifornia | — | $450.77 |
| Madera, CACalifornia | — | $450.77 |
| Merced, CACalifornia | — | $450.77 |
| Modesto, CACalifornia | — | $450.77 |
| Napa, CACalifornia | — | $508.91 |
| Oxnard, CACalifornia | — | $475.72 |
| Redding, CACalifornia | — | $450.77 |
| Rest of CaliforniaCalifornia | — | $450.77 |
| Riverside, CACalifornia | — | $462.70 |
| Sacramento, CACalifornia | — | $469.53 |
| Salinas, CACalifornia | — | $467.73 |
| San Diego, CACalifornia | — | $476.29 |
| Marin County, CACalifornia | — | $533.88 |
| San Francisco, CACalifornia | — | $532.62 |
| San Benito County, CACalifornia | — | $546.74 |
| Santa Clara County, CACalifornia | — | $541.58 |
| San Luis Obispo, CACalifornia | — | $460.67 |
| Santa Cruz, CACalifornia | — | $478.86 |
| Santa Maria, CACalifornia | — | $468.81 |
| Santa Rosa, CACalifornia | — | $483.43 |
| Stockton, CACalifornia | — | $450.77 |
| Vallejo, CACalifornia | — | $507.09 |
| Visalia, CACalifornia | — | $450.77 |
| Yuba City, CACalifornia | — | $450.77 |
| ColoradoColorado | — | $451.61 |
| ConnecticutConnecticut | — | $471.92 |
| DelawareDelaware | — | $437.27 |
| Fort Lauderdale, FLFlorida | — | $475.84 |
| Rest of FloridaFlorida | — | $451.42 |
| Atlanta, GAGeorgia | — | $454.56 |
| Rest of GeorgiaGeorgia | — | $425.16 |
| Hawaii, Guam, HIHawaii | — | $458.82 |
| IowaIowa | — | $400.98 |
| IdahoIdaho | — | $404.95 |
| East St. Louis, ILIllinois | — | $462.08 |
| Rest of IllinoisIllinois | — | $443.75 |
| Suburban Chicago, ILIllinois | — | $478.96 |
| IndianaIndiana | — | $407.04 |
| KansasKansas | — | $402.41 |
| KentuckyKentucky | — | $414.20 |
| New Orleans, LALouisiana | — | $434.36 |
| Rest of LouisianaLouisiana | — | $414.87 |
| Metropolitan Boston, MAMassachusetts | — | $490.67 |
| Rest of MassachusettsMassachusetts | — | $450.38 |
| Baltimore area, MDMaryland | — | $471.29 |
| Rest of MarylandMaryland | — | $444.37 |
| Rest of MaineMaine | — | $410.47 |
| Southern Maine, MEMaine | — | $427.14 |
| Detroit, MIMichigan | — | $460.27 |
| Rest of MichiganMichigan | — | $427.66 |
| MinnesotaMinnesota | — | $423.47 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City, MOMissouri | — | $428.01 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MOMissouri | — | $431.92 |
| Rest of MissouriMissouri | — | $410.17 |
| MississippiMississippi | — | $401.23 |
| North CarolinaNorth Carolina | — | $414.09 |
| North DakotaNorth Dakota | — | $420.87 |
| NebraskaNebraska | — | $402.12 |
| New HampshireNew Hampshire | — | $447.70 |
| Northern New JerseyNew Jersey | — | $493.31 |
| Rest of New JerseyNew Jersey | — | $474.69 |
| New MexicoNew Mexico | — | $431.25 |
| NevadaNevada | — | $436.93 |
| NYC suburbs and Long Island, NYNew York | — | $529.41 |
| Poughkeepsie and northern NYC suburbs, NYNew York | — | $480.45 |
| Queens, NYNew York | — | $512.41 |
| Rest of New YorkNew York | — | $420.38 |
| OhioOhio | — | $423.17 |
| OklahomaOklahoma | — | $410.00 |
| Portland, OROregon | — | $461.76 |
| Rest of OregonOregon | — | $430.96 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia, PAPennsylvania | — | $462.65 |
| Rest of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania | — | $421.99 |
| Puerto RicoPuerto Rico | — | $444.87 |
| Rhode IslandRhode Island | — | $449.82 |
| South CarolinaSouth Carolina | — | $419.84 |
| South DakotaSouth Dakota | — | $418.28 |
| TennesseeTennessee | — | $404.79 |
| Austin, TXTexas | — | $452.37 |
| Beaumont, TXTexas | — | $419.55 |
| Brazoria, TXTexas | — | $434.07 |
| Dallas, TXTexas | — | $438.29 |
| Fort Worth, TXTexas | — | $436.47 |
| Galveston, TXTexas | — | $436.31 |
| Houston, TXTexas | — | $456.63 |
| Rest of TexasTexas | — | $427.56 |
| UtahUtah | — | $425.31 |
| VirginiaVirginia | — | $428.08 |
| Virgin Islands, VIUnited States Virgin Islands | — | $444.87 |
| VermontVermont | — | $422.28 |
| Rest of WashingtonWashington | — | $448.52 |
| King County, WAWashington | — | $497.14 |
| WisconsinWisconsin | — | $407.57 |
| West VirginiaWest Virginia | — | $428.73 |
| WyomingWyoming | — | $433.26 |
27425 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 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.
The exact Montana inputs and CMS source lines
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
2,886
- Code
- 27425
- Physician work
- 5.26
- Practice expense
- 6.89
- Malpractice
- 1.11
GPCI2026.csv
71
- Locality
- Montana
- Physician work
- 1.000
- Practice expense
- 1.000
- Malpractice
- 0.998
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 5.26 | × 1.000 | 5.2600 |
| Practice expense | 6.89 | × 1.000 | 6.8900 |
| Malpractice | 1.11 | × 0.998 | 1.1078 |
| Total RVUs | 13.2578 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Facility rate, Montana$442.82
Facility: (5.26 × 1 + 6.89 × 1 + 1.11 × 0.998) × $33.4009 = $442.82
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).
How 27425 has changed in Montana
27425 · 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 | $442.82 | RVU26D |
| 2026-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $442.82 | RVU26C |
| 2026-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $442.82 | RVU26B |
| 2026-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $442.82 | RVU26A |
| 2025-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $454.98 | RVU25D |
| 2025-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $454.98 | RVU25C |
| 2025-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $454.98 | RVU25B |
| 2025-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $454.98 | RVU25A |
| 2024-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $463.88 | RVU24D |
| 2024-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $463.88 | RVU24C |
| 2024-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $463.88 | RVU24B |
| 2024-03-09 | Not available in this setting | $463.88 | RVU24AR |
| 2024-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $456.31 | RVU24A |
| 2023-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $466.18 | RVU23D |
| 2023-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $466.18 | RVU23C |
| 2023-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $466.18 | RVU23B |
| 2023-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $466.18 | RVU23A |
| 2022-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $468.05 | RVU22D |
| 2022-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $468.05 | RVU22C |
| 2022-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $468.05 | RVU22B |
| 2022-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $468.05 | RVU22A |
| 2021-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $467.41 | RVU21D |
| 2021-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $467.41 | RVU21C |
| 2021-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $467.41 | RVU21B |
| 2021-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $467.41 | RVU21A |
| 2020-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $479.24 | RVU20D |
| 2020-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $479.24 | RVU20C |
| 2020-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $479.24 | RVU20B |
| 2020-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $479.24 | RVU20A |
| 2019-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $491.00 | RVU19D |
| 2019-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $491.00 | RVU19C |
| 2019-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $491.00 | RVU19B |
| 2019-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $491.00 | RVU19A |
| 2018-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $488.44 | RVU18D |
| 2018-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $488.44 | RVU18C |
| 2018-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $488.44 | RVU18B |
| 2018-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $488.44 | RVU18AR1 |
| 2017-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $477.23 | RVU17D |
| 2017-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $477.23 | RVU17C |
| 2017-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $477.23 | RVU17B |
| 2017-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $477.23 | RVU17A |
| 2016-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $469.07 | RVU16D |
| 2016-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $469.07 | RVU16C |
| 2016-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $469.07 | RVU16B |
| 2016-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $469.07 | RVU16A |
| 2015-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $472.00 | RVU15D |
| 2015-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $472.00 | RVU15C |
| 2015-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $469.65 | RVU15B |
| 2015-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $469.65 | RVU15A |
| 2014-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $460.92 | RVU14D |
| 2014-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $460.92 | RVU14C |
| 2014-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $460.92 | RVU14B |
| 2014-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $460.92 | RVU14A |
| 2013-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $458.60 | RVU13D |
| 2013-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $458.60 | RVU13C |
| 2013-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $458.60 | RVU13B |
| 2013-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $458.60 | RVU13AR |
Where the Montana rate applies
Montana is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 497 cities and communities in Montana. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.
- Absarokee
- Acton
- Alberton
- Alder
- Alzada
- Amsterdam
- Anaconda-Deer Lodge County
- Antelope
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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