CPT code 27618: Soft-tissue excision, subcutaneous, under 3 cm2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $518.38 for 27618 nationally in the office and $298.27 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $454.51–$681.10.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 27618 covers

This code describes excision of a soft-tissue tumor smaller than 3 cm that lies beneath the skin but remains subcutaneous in the leg or ankle area. An orthopedic surgeon or another surgeon may perform it in an operating room or an outpatient procedure setting. A small superficial lipoma is a typical example; the operative report should establish the mass’s location, size, and depth.

Choose this code when the surgeon removes the tumor, not when only a tissue sample is taken. Distinguish it from codes for larger subcutaneous tumors and for tumors beneath the fascia. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures 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 is 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.

Where 27618 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

27618 rates by state

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

How the 27618 rate is calculated

Each of 27618’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 27618

27618 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 50

27618 compared with similar codes

How to choose

27619Soft-tissue excisionDeep, under 5 cm

Use 27618 for a subcutaneous tumor under 3 cm; 27619 describes a deep soft-tissue tumor under 5 cm.

27632Soft-tissue excisionSubcutaneous, 3 cm or larger

27632 is for a subcutaneous leg or ankle lesion 3 cm or larger. 27618 is limited to a tumor under 3 cm.

27615Tumor resectionSmall tumor, under 5 cm

27615 describes resection of a subcutaneous leg or ankle tumor under 5 cm. 27618 describes excision of a subcutaneous tumor under 3 cm; the operative procedure and documented size distinguish them.

Codes related to 27618

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

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates