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

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 King County, WA, Medicare pays $625.68 for 27603 in the office and $412.98 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$625.68Office (non-facility)
$412.98Hospital or facility
+14.9%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 King County, WA
  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 King County, WA 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. King County, WA pays $625.68. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

27603 in King County, WA vs other payment areas
  1. King County, WA · this page$625.68
  2. Rest of Washington · Washington$557.85−$67.83
  3. Los Angeles, CA · California$604.32−$21.36
  4. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$618.62−$7.06
  5. Miami, FL · Florida$605.84−$19.84
  6. Chicago, IL · Illinois$587.47−$38.21
  7. Manhattan, NY · New York$629.36+$3.68

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

Every other payment area

27603 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlaskaAlaska$638.48$453.87
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

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 King County, WA 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

108

Locality
King County, WA
Physician work
1.050
Practice expense
1.227
Malpractice
0.817
Office calculation for 27603 in King County, WA
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work5.10× 1.0505.3550
Practice expense10.29× 1.22712.6258
Malpractice0.92× 0.8170.7516
Total RVUs18.7325
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, King County, WA$625.68

Office: (5.1 × 1.05 + 10.29 × 1.227 + 0.92 × 0.817) × $33.4009 = $625.68

Facility: (5.1 × 1.05 + 5.1 × 1.227 + 0.92 × 0.817) × $33.4009 = $412.98

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 King County, WA

27603 · Office / nonfacility

$625.68

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $47.02 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $578.66 to $625.68 (8.1%).

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

    $578.66changed to$625.68

    • 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
    • Work GPCI 1.043 changed to 1.050
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.220 changed to 1.227
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.853 changed to 0.817

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $600.85changed to$578.66

    • 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

    $591.05changed to$600.85

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $608.50changed to$591.05

    • 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
    • Work GPCI 1.039 changed to 1.043
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.207 changed to 1.220
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.815 changed to 0.853
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $615.29changed to$608.50

    • 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
    • Work GPCI 1.036 changed to 1.039
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.194 changed to 1.207
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.776 changed to 0.815

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $624.01changed to$615.29

    • 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

    $610.01changed to$624.01

    • 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
    • Work GPCI 1.031 changed to 1.036
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.170 changed to 1.194
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.854 changed to 0.776

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $599.74changed to$610.01

    • 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
    • Work GPCI 1.027 changed to 1.031
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.146 changed to 1.170
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.931 changed to 0.854

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $595.29changed to$599.74

    • 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

    $584.25changed to$595.29

    • 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
    • Work GPCI 1.026 changed to 1.027
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.151 changed to 1.146
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.713 changed to 0.931

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $579.25changed to$584.25

    • 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
    • Work GPCI 1.025 changed to 1.026
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.155 changed to 1.151
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.495 changed to 0.713

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $580.33changed to$579.25

    • 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

    $577.44changed to$580.33

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $577.23changed to$577.44

    • 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 1.150 changed to 1.155
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.688 changed to 0.495

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $603.83changed to$577.23

    • 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 1.144 changed to 1.150
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.881 changed to 0.688

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $603.83

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$625.68$412.98RVU26D
2026-07-01$625.68$412.98RVU26C
2026-04-01$625.68$412.98RVU26B
2026-01-01$625.68$412.98RVU26A
2025-10-01$578.66$426.73RVU25D
2025-07-01$578.66$426.73RVU25C
2025-04-01$578.66$426.73RVU25B
2025-01-01$578.66$426.73RVU25A
2024-10-01$600.85$437.60RVU24D
2024-07-01$600.85$437.60RVU24C
2024-04-01$600.85$437.60RVU24B
2024-03-09$600.85$437.60RVU24AR
2024-01-01$591.05$430.46RVU24A
2023-10-01$608.50$438.75RVU23D
2023-07-01$608.50$438.75RVU23C
2023-04-01$608.50$438.75RVU23B
2023-01-01$608.50$438.75RVU23A
2022-10-01$615.29$439.26RVU22D
2022-07-01$615.29$439.26RVU22C
2022-04-01$615.29$439.26RVU22B
2022-01-01$615.29$439.26RVU22A
2021-10-01$624.01$438.20RVU21D
2021-07-01$624.01$438.20RVU21C
2021-04-01$624.01$438.20RVU21B
2021-01-01$624.01$438.20RVU21A
2020-10-01$610.01$436.89RVU20D
2020-07-01$610.01$436.89RVU20C
2020-04-01$610.01$436.89RVU20B
2020-01-01$610.01$436.89RVU20A
2019-10-01$599.74$432.06RVU19D
2019-07-01$599.74$432.06RVU19C
2019-04-01$599.74$432.06RVU19B
2019-01-01$599.74$432.06RVU19A
2018-10-01$595.29$429.85RVU18D
2018-07-01$595.29$429.85RVU18C
2018-04-01$595.29$429.85RVU18B
2018-01-01$595.29$429.85RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$584.25$420.26RVU17D
2017-07-01$584.25$420.26RVU17C
2017-04-01$584.25$420.26RVU17B
2017-01-01$584.25$420.26RVU17A
2016-10-01$579.25$413.83RVU16D
2016-07-01$579.25$413.83RVU16C
2016-04-01$579.25$413.83RVU16B
2016-01-01$579.25$413.83RVU16A
2015-10-01$580.33$414.32RVU15D
2015-07-01$580.33$414.32RVU15C
2015-04-01$577.44$412.26RVU15B
2015-01-01$577.44$412.26RVU15A
2014-10-01$577.23$417.39RVU14D
2014-07-01$577.23$417.39RVU14C
2014-04-01$577.23$417.39RVU14B
2014-01-01$577.23$417.39RVU14A
2013-10-01$603.83$426.74RVU13D
2013-07-01$603.83$426.74RVU13C
2013-04-01$603.83$426.74RVU13B
2013-01-01$603.83$426.74RVU13AR

Price 27603 for an earlier date of service

Where the King County, WA rate applies

King County, WA is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 63 cities and communities in Washington. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Seattle
  • Algona
  • Ames Lake
  • 27603 in Auburn · multiple payment areas
  • Baring
  • Beaux Arts Village
  • Bellevue
  • Black Diamond

Browse all communities in Washington

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 King County, WAGPCI2026.csv, line 108 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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