CPT code 27602: Leg decompression, all compartments2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in New York
Reports fasciotomy releasing all lower-leg compartments, typically as urgent surgical treatment for acute compartment syndrome after trauma or impaired perfusion.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 27602 in New York.
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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On this page 9 sections
What 27602 covers
This operation opens the fascial compartments of the lower leg to relieve dangerously elevated pressure; the surgeon may remove nonviable tissue during the procedure. Orthopedic and trauma surgeons commonly perform it urgently for acute compartment syndrome, such as after a severe fracture, crush injury, or restoration of blood flow. The release covers all lower-leg compartments, rather than only the anterior and lateral compartments or only the posterior compartment.
Report 27602 when the operative work decompresses all compartments. The operative report should identify the compartments released and describe the indication and any debridement performed. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including 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 the 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 payment 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 27602 pays more and less in New York
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Manhattan, NY | Unavailable | $517.49 |
| NYC suburbs and Long Island, NY | Unavailable | $537.93 |
| Poughkeepsie and northern NYC suburbs, NY | Unavailable | $480.56 |
| Queens, NY | Unavailable | $510.98 |
| Rest of New York | Unavailable | $418.92 |
How the 27602 rate is calculated
Each of 27602’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 · 27602
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work7.62
7.62 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense3.79
3.79 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.88
1.88 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
13.2900
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$443.90
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 27602
27602 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 27602
Leg decompression, all compartments
| 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 · 27602
Leg decompression, all compartments
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
27602 without 50 · national facility
$443.90
Leg decompression, all compartments
27602-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$665.85
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).
27602 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 27600Leg decompressionAnterior and/or lateral compartments
- Choose 27600 when the operative release is limited to the anterior and/or lateral compartments, not all lower-leg compartments.
- 27601Leg fasciotomyPosterior compartment
- Choose 27601 when the release is limited to the posterior compartment; 27602 describes decompression of all compartments.
- 27603Deep drainageLeg or ankle abscess/hematoma
- 27603 is for drainage of a lower-leg lesion. It does not describe the pressure-relieving all-compartment release reported with 27602.
27602 billing questions
How does 27602 differ from 27600 and 27601?
27602 is for release of all lower-leg compartments. 27600 describes release of the anterior and/or lateral compartments, while 27601 describes release of the posterior compartment.
Can debridement be part of 27602?
Yes. The all-compartment decompression may include debridement of nonviable tissue when performed as part of the operation.
What documentation supports reporting 27602?
Document the acute condition prompting decompression, the compartments released, and any debridement performed. The operative details should support release of all compartments rather than a more limited release.
How is 27602 reported when both legs are treated?
CMS lists bilateral reporting with modifier 50, paid at 150%. The operative documentation should support decompression of all compartments in each treated leg.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team-surgery payment 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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