CPT code 27615: Tumor resection, small tumor, under 5 cm2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California
Reports radical removal of a soft-tissue tumor under 5 cm in the leg or ankle, rather than a biopsy or limited excision.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 27615 in California.
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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What 27615 covers
This service involves definitive, radical removal of a soft-tissue tumor in the leg or ankle region when the tumor is under 5 cm. The surgeon removes the lesion and the tissue needed for the planned resection; this is more extensive than sampling a mass or simply excising a localized lesion. Orthopedic oncologists and other surgeons who treat soft-tissue tumors may perform it in an operating room after diagnostic workup.
Choose the code based on the radical extent of the resection and the documented tumor size, not just the incision or specimen label. The operative report should identify the site, tumor size, depth, and extent of tissue removed. This major surgery includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires medical-necessity documentation; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation. 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.
Where 27615 pays more and less in California
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
29 of 29 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | Unavailable | $940.48 |
| Chico, CA | Unavailable | $931.44 |
| El Centro, CA | Unavailable | $931.99 |
| Fresno, CA | Unavailable | $931.44 |
| Hanford, CA | Unavailable | $931.44 |
| Los Angeles, CA | Unavailable | $985.72 |
| Madera, CA | Unavailable | $931.44 |
| Marin County, CA | Unavailable | $1,063.70 |
| Merced, CA | Unavailable | $931.44 |
| Modesto, CA | Unavailable | $931.44 |
| Napa, CA | Unavailable | $1,023.17 |
| Oxnard, CA | Unavailable | $974.24 |
| Redding, CA | Unavailable | $931.44 |
| Rest of California | Unavailable | $931.44 |
| Riverside, CA | Unavailable | $966.78 |
| Sacramento, CA | Unavailable | $962.67 |
| Salinas, CA | Unavailable | $958.83 |
| San Benito County, CA | Unavailable | $1,090.12 |
| San Diego, CA | Unavailable | $970.85 |
| San Francisco, CA | Unavailable | $1,059.97 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | Unavailable | $945.24 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | Unavailable | $1,074.84 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | Unavailable | $971.68 |
| Santa Maria, CA | Unavailable | $959.54 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | Unavailable | $980.46 |
| Stockton, CA | Unavailable | $931.44 |
| Vallejo, CA | Unavailable | $1,017.79 |
| Visalia, CA | Unavailable | $931.44 |
| Yuba City, CA | Unavailable | $931.44 |
How the 27615 rate is calculated
Each of 27615’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 · 27615
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work15.33
15.33 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense9.61
9.61 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice3.29
3.29 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
28.2300
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$942.91
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 27615
27615 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 27615
Tumor resection, small tumor, under 5 cm
| 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) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| 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 · 27615
Tumor resection, small tumor, under 5 cm
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
27615 without 50 · national facility
$942.91
Tumor resection, small tumor, under 5 cm
27615-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,414.37
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).
27615 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 27616Tumor resectionLeg or ankle, 5 cm or larger
- This code applies to radical resection when the tumor is under 5 cm; 27616 is for a tumor measuring 5 cm or more.
- 27619Soft-tissue excisionDeep, under 5 cm
- 27619 is for excision of a deep, subfascial tumor under 5 cm. Choose 27615 when the operative service is a radical resection.
- 27618Soft-tissue excisionSubcutaneous, under 3 cm
- 27618 describes limited excision of a superficial tumor under 3 cm, not radical resection.
- 27614Soft-tissue biopsyDeep soft tissue
- 27614 is a deep soft-tissue biopsy for diagnosis; 27615 is definitive radical tumor removal.
27615 billing questions
How does this differ from 27616?
Both describe radical tumor resection in the leg or ankle region. Use 27615 for a tumor under 5 cm and 27616 for one measuring 5 cm or more.
When would 27619 be a better choice?
27619 describes excision of a deep, subfascial tumor under 5 cm. Use 27615 when the operative service is a radical resection, rather than that more limited excision.
Can a biopsy be reported as well?
A biopsy may be part of the diagnostic workup, but this code represents definitive radical removal. The operative record should distinguish any separately performed diagnostic procedure from the resection.
What documentation supports reporting 27615?
Document the leg or ankle site, tumor size, depth, and the radical extent of tissue removal. The record should support a tumor under 5 cm and distinguish the service from a biopsy or limited excision.
How are bilateral cases and surgical assistance handled?
Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity, and co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation.
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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