CPT code 27603: Deep drainage, leg or ankle abscess/hematoma2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Arkansas

Reports surgical drainage of a deep abscess or hematoma in the leg or ankle, rather than drainage of a superficial skin collection or bursa.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality3.9K Medicare services in 2024

In Arkansas, Medicare pays $481.40 for 27603 in the office and $332.50 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$481.40Office (non-facility)
$332.50Hospital or facility
−11.6%vs the national office rate ($544.77)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 27603 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 27603 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Arkansas
  2. What 27603 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 27603 covers

The surgeon makes an incision to reach and drain a deep abscess or hematoma in the leg or ankle. Orthopedic, trauma, and general surgeons may perform the service when a deep collection requires operative drainage, commonly in a hospital or other surgical setting. The operative report should identify the leg or ankle site, establish that the collection is deep, and describe the incision and drainage performed.

Select this code for a deep abscess or hematoma, not a superficial skin abscess, bursal collection, or collection in the thigh or knee region. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. For bilateral services reported with modifier 50, CMS pays 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is statutorily restricted; 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 Arkansas compares for 27603

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 27603 runs from $481.40 in Arkansas to $701.16 in San Benito County, CA. Arkansas pays $481.40. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

27603 in Arkansas vs other payment areas
  1. Arkansas · this page$481.40
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$604.32+$122.92
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$618.62+$137.22
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$605.84+$124.44
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$587.47+$106.07
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$629.36+$147.96
  7. Alaska · Alaska$638.48+$157.08

Other areas in Arkansas first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

27603 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$488.47$336.79
ArizonaArizona$529.69$361.71
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$568.98$378.99
Chico, CACalifornia$566.40$376.41
El Centro, CACalifornia$566.55$376.56
Fresno, CACalifornia$566.40$376.41
Hanford, CACalifornia$566.40$376.41
Madera, CACalifornia$566.40$376.41

27603 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.

$481.40

$638.48

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

View every state and territory as a table
27603 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$638.481
AL$488.471
AR$481.401
AZ$529.691
CA$566.40–$701.1629
CO$562.081
CT$581.091
DC$618.621
DE$538.391
FL$545.10–$605.843
GA$513.55–$556.962
GU$578.921
HI$578.921
IA$497.031
ID$501.081
IL$532.17–$587.474
IN$503.881
KS$496.531
KY$504.011
LA$503.95–$528.672
MA$559.47–$615.052
MD$548.08–$618.623
ME$505.66–$530.342
MI$518.83–$553.822
MN$533.101
MO$496.54–$528.333
MS$488.971
MT$544.711
NC$510.651
ND$526.521
NE$499.191
NH$555.021
NJ$586.18–$612.582
NM$522.421
NV$539.981
NY$518.46–$646.965
OH$515.111
OK$501.141
OR$534.27–$577.782
PA$514.90–$567.862
PR$548.091
RI$556.031
SC$514.041
SD$524.361
TN$499.261
TX$511.65–$561.548
UT$521.011
VA$529.89–$618.622
VI$548.091
VT$526.151
WA$557.85–$625.682
WI$509.071
WV$512.991
WY$536.781

See 27603 in every payment locality

How the 27603 rate is calculated

Each of 27603’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 · 27603

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work5.10

5.10 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense10.29

10.29 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.92

0.92 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

16.3100

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$544.77

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

The exact Arkansas inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

2,965

Code
27603
Physician work
5.10
Practice expense
10.29
Malpractice
0.92

GPCI2026.csv

7

Locality
Arkansas
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.859
Malpractice
0.515
Office calculation for 27603 in Arkansas
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work5.10× 1.0005.1000
Practice expense10.29× 0.8598.8391
Malpractice0.92× 0.5150.4738
Total RVUs14.4129
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Arkansas$481.40

Office: (5.1 × 1 + 10.29 × 0.859 + 0.92 × 0.515) × $33.4009 = $481.40

Facility: (5.1 × 1 + 5.1 × 0.859 + 0.92 × 0.515) × $33.4009 = $332.50

Open 27603 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 27603

27603 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 27603

Deep drainage, leg or ankle abscess/hematoma

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 · 27603

Deep drainage, leg or ankle abscess/hematoma

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

27603 without 50 · national office

$544.77

Deep drainage, leg or ankle abscess/hematoma

27603-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$817.16

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

How 27603 has changed in Arkansas

27603 · Office / nonfacility

$481.40

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $31.10 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $450.30 to $481.40 (6.9%).

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

    $450.30changed to$481.40

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 5.23 changed to 5.10
    • Practice expense RVU 9.57 changed to 10.29
    • Malpractice RVU 0.89 changed to 0.92
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.860 changed to 0.859
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.518 changed to 0.515

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $467.01changed to$450.30

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 9.66 changed to 9.57
    • Malpractice RVU 0.95 changed to 0.89

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $459.39changed to$467.01

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $474.37changed to$459.39

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 9.72 changed to 9.66
    • Malpractice RVU 0.97 changed to 0.95
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.853 changed to 0.860
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.492 changed to 0.518
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $481.43changed to$474.37

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 9.69 changed to 9.72
    • Malpractice RVU 1.02 changed to 0.97
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.847 changed to 0.853
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.465 changed to 0.492

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $488.05changed to$481.43

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 9.79 changed to 9.69
    • Malpractice RVU 1.00 changed to 1.02

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $490.03changed to$488.05

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 9.13 changed to 9.79
    • Malpractice RVU 0.97 changed to 1.00
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.859 changed to 0.847
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.521 changed to 0.465

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $492.81changed to$490.03

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 9.03 changed to 9.13
    • Malpractice RVU 0.99 changed to 0.97
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.872 changed to 0.859
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.576 changed to 0.521

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $489.34changed to$492.81

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 8.93 changed to 9.03
    • Malpractice RVU 1.00 changed to 0.99

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $484.34changed to$489.34

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 8.85 changed to 8.93
    • Malpractice RVU 1.02 changed to 1.00
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.870 changed to 0.872
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.555 changed to 0.576

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $484.04changed to$484.34

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 8.92 changed to 8.85
    • Malpractice RVU 1.04 changed to 1.02
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.867 changed to 0.870
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.534 changed to 0.555

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $484.97changed to$484.04

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 8.90 changed to 8.92
    • Malpractice RVU 1.03 changed to 1.04

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $482.56changed to$484.97

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $476.52changed to$482.56

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 8.77 changed to 8.90
    • Malpractice RVU 0.97 changed to 1.03
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.866 changed to 0.867
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.492 changed to 0.534

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $489.17changed to$476.52

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 10.05 changed to 8.77
    • Malpractice RVU 1.01 changed to 0.97
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.865 changed to 0.866
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.450 changed to 0.492

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $489.17

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$481.40$332.50RVU26D
2026-07-01$481.40$332.50RVU26C
2026-04-01$481.40$332.50RVU26B
2026-01-01$481.40$332.50RVU26A
2025-10-01$450.30$343.20RVU25D
2025-07-01$450.30$343.20RVU25C
2025-04-01$450.30$343.20RVU25B
2025-01-01$450.30$343.20RVU25A
2024-10-01$467.01$351.93RVU24D
2024-07-01$467.01$351.93RVU24C
2024-04-01$467.01$351.93RVU24B
2024-03-09$467.01$351.93RVU24AR
2024-01-01$459.39$346.19RVU24A
2023-10-01$474.37$354.41RVU23D
2023-07-01$474.37$354.41RVU23C
2023-04-01$474.37$354.41RVU23B
2023-01-01$474.37$354.41RVU23A
2022-10-01$481.43$356.57RVU22D
2022-07-01$481.43$356.57RVU22C
2022-04-01$481.43$356.57RVU22B
2022-01-01$481.43$356.57RVU22A
2021-10-01$488.05$356.24RVU21D
2021-07-01$488.05$356.24RVU21C
2021-04-01$488.05$356.24RVU21B
2021-01-01$488.05$356.24RVU21A
2020-10-01$490.03$362.92RVU20D
2020-07-01$490.03$362.92RVU20C
2020-04-01$490.03$362.92RVU20B
2020-01-01$490.03$362.92RVU20A
2019-10-01$492.81$365.22RVU19D
2019-07-01$492.81$365.22RVU19C
2019-04-01$492.81$365.22RVU19B
2019-01-01$492.81$365.22RVU19A
2018-10-01$489.34$363.46RVU18D
2018-07-01$489.34$363.46RVU18C
2018-04-01$489.34$363.46RVU18B
2018-01-01$489.34$363.46RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$484.34$360.38RVU17D
2017-07-01$484.34$360.38RVU17C
2017-04-01$484.34$360.38RVU17B
2017-01-01$484.34$360.38RVU17A
2016-10-01$484.04$359.87RVU16D
2016-07-01$484.04$359.87RVU16C
2016-04-01$484.04$359.87RVU16B
2016-01-01$484.04$359.87RVU16A
2015-10-01$484.97$360.35RVU15D
2015-07-01$484.97$360.35RVU15C
2015-04-01$482.56$358.56RVU15B
2015-01-01$482.56$358.56RVU15A
2014-10-01$476.52$356.15RVU14D
2014-07-01$476.52$356.15RVU14C
2014-04-01$476.52$356.15RVU14B
2014-01-01$476.52$356.15RVU14A
2013-10-01$489.17$355.27RVU13D
2013-07-01$489.17$355.27RVU13C
2013-04-01$489.17$355.27RVU13B
2013-01-01$489.17$355.27RVU13AR

Price 27603 for an earlier date of service

Where the Arkansas rate applies

Arkansas is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 626 cities and communities in Arkansas. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Acorn
  • Adona
  • Alexander
  • Alicia
  • Alix
  • Alleene
  • Allport
  • Alma

Browse all communities in Arkansas

27603 billing questions

How is this different from drainage of a superficial abscess?

This code is for a deep collection in the leg or ankle. A superficial cutaneous abscess is generally reported with the applicable skin abscess drainage code.

When would 27604 be a better choice?

Use 27604 when the operative target is a bursa in the lower leg or ankle. This code describes drainage of a deep abscess or hematoma.

Does this code include postoperative visits?

CMS includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care in the global period.

How is bilateral drainage paid?

When reported bilaterally with modifier 50, CMS pays 150% for the bilateral procedure.

Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?

CMS restricts assistant-at-surgery payment 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 27603PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,965 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for ArkansasGPCI2026.csv, line 7 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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