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

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 Iowa, Medicare pays $497.03 for 27603 in the office and $338.41 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$497.03Office (non-facility)
$338.41Hospital or facility
−8.8%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 Iowa
  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 Iowa 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. Iowa pays $497.03. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

27603 in Iowa vs other payment areas
  1. Iowa · this page$497.03
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$604.32+$107.29
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$618.62+$121.59
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$605.84+$108.81
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$587.47+$90.44
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$629.36+$132.33
  7. Alaska · Alaska$638.48+$141.45

Other areas in Iowa 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
ArkansasArkansas$481.40$332.50
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

27603 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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 Iowa 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

53

Locality
Iowa
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.915
Malpractice
0.397
Office calculation for 27603 in Iowa
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work5.10× 1.0005.1000
Practice expense10.29× 0.9159.4154
Malpractice0.92× 0.3970.3652
Total RVUs14.8806
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Iowa$497.03

Office: (5.1 × 1 + 10.29 × 0.915 + 0.92 × 0.397) × $33.4009 = $497.03

Facility: (5.1 × 1 + 5.1 × 0.915 + 0.92 × 0.397) × $33.4009 = $338.41

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

Codes related to 27603

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 27603
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Iowa
Used instead
27604Bursa drainage, lower leg or ankleDrainage in the same region when the operative target is a bursa.$435.57
27301Deep drainage, thigh or knee regionDeep abscess, bursa, or hematoma drainage for the thigh or knee region.$652.76
10060Abscess drainage, simple, single abscessUsed for a cutaneous abscess treated with simple incision and drainage.$118.79
10061Abscess drainage, complex or multipleUsed for complicated or multiple cutaneous abscess drainage.$202.48
10140Fluid drainage, hematoma, seroma, or collectionFor incision and drainage of a hematoma, seroma, or fluid collection at a different depth or site.$160.27

How 27603 has changed in Iowa

27603 · Office / nonfacility

$497.03

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $32.08 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $464.95 to $497.03 (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

    $464.95changed to$497.03

    • 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 0.913 changed to 0.915
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.457 changed to 0.397

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $482.13changed to$464.95

    • 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

    $474.26changed to$482.13

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $491.47changed to$474.26

    • 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 0.910 changed to 0.913
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.441 changed to 0.457

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $500.14changed to$491.47

    • 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 0.907 changed to 0.910
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.425 changed to 0.441

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $507.15changed to$500.14

    • 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

    $502.45changed to$507.15

    • 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
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.424 changed to 0.425

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $498.74changed to$502.45

    • 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
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.423 changed to 0.424

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $495.08changed to$498.74

    • 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

    $490.95changed to$495.08

    • 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 0.902 changed to 0.907
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.458 changed to 0.423

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $491.77changed to$490.95

    • 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 0.896 changed to 0.902
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.493 changed to 0.458

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $492.73changed to$491.77

    • 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

    $490.28changed to$492.73

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $484.09changed to$490.28

    • 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 0.892 changed to 0.896
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.475 changed to 0.493

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $496.90changed to$484.09

    • 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 0.887 changed to 0.892
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.456 changed to 0.475

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $496.90

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$497.03$338.41RVU26D
2026-07-01$497.03$338.41RVU26C
2026-04-01$497.03$338.41RVU26B
2026-01-01$497.03$338.41RVU26A
2025-10-01$464.95$351.25RVU25D
2025-07-01$464.95$351.25RVU25C
2025-04-01$464.95$351.25RVU25B
2025-01-01$464.95$351.25RVU25A
2024-10-01$482.13$359.95RVU24D
2024-07-01$482.13$359.95RVU24C
2024-04-01$482.13$359.95RVU24B
2024-03-09$482.13$359.95RVU24AR
2024-01-01$474.26$354.08RVU24A
2023-10-01$491.47$363.49RVU23D
2023-07-01$491.47$363.49RVU23C
2023-04-01$491.47$363.49RVU23B
2023-01-01$491.47$363.49RVU23A
2022-10-01$500.14$366.43RVU22D
2022-07-01$500.14$366.43RVU22C
2022-04-01$500.14$366.43RVU22B
2022-01-01$500.14$366.43RVU22A
2021-10-01$507.15$366.00RVU21D
2021-07-01$507.15$366.00RVU21C
2021-04-01$507.15$366.00RVU21B
2021-01-01$507.15$366.00RVU21A
2020-10-01$502.45$368.24RVU20D
2020-07-01$502.45$368.24RVU20C
2020-04-01$502.45$368.24RVU20B
2020-01-01$502.45$368.24RVU20A
2019-10-01$498.74$366.03RVU19D
2019-07-01$498.74$366.03RVU19C
2019-04-01$498.74$366.03RVU19B
2019-01-01$498.74$366.03RVU19A
2018-10-01$495.08$364.15RVU18D
2018-07-01$495.08$364.15RVU18C
2018-04-01$495.08$364.15RVU18B
2018-01-01$495.08$364.15RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$490.95$362.44RVU17D
2017-07-01$490.95$362.44RVU17C
2017-04-01$490.95$362.44RVU17B
2017-01-01$490.95$362.44RVU17A
2016-10-01$491.77$363.45RVU16D
2016-07-01$491.77$363.45RVU16C
2016-04-01$491.77$363.45RVU16B
2016-01-01$491.77$363.45RVU16A
2015-10-01$492.73$363.94RVU15D
2015-07-01$492.73$363.94RVU15C
2015-04-01$490.28$362.13RVU15B
2015-01-01$490.28$362.13RVU15A
2014-10-01$484.09$360.11RVU14D
2014-07-01$484.09$360.11RVU14C
2014-04-01$484.09$360.11RVU14B
2014-01-01$484.09$360.11RVU14A
2013-10-01$496.90$359.59RVU13D
2013-07-01$496.90$359.59RVU13C
2013-04-01$496.90$359.59RVU13B
2013-01-01$496.90$359.59RVU13AR

Price 27603 for an earlier date of service

Where the Iowa rate applies

Iowa is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1026 cities and communities in Iowa. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Ackley
  • Ackworth
  • Adair
  • Adel
  • Afton
  • Agency
  • Ainsworth
  • Akron

Browse all communities in Iowa

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 IowaGPCI2026.csv, line 53 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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