CPT code 27620: Ankle arthrotomy, with or without biopsy2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $435.55 for 27620 nationally in a facility.

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

What 27620 covers

This procedure opens the ankle joint so the surgeon can inspect its structures and, when indicated, obtain a tissue sample. Orthopedic surgeons typically perform it in an operating room to investigate an intra-articular problem, such as suspected infection or inflammatory disease, when direct visualization or joint-tissue biopsy is needed. The biopsy is part of the described service; laboratory or pathology interpretation is a separate service when performed by another provider.

Select the code when the operative report supports an ankle arthrotomy for joint exploration, with or without biopsy. Document the reason for exploration, the joint entered, findings, and any specimen obtained. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. In a same-session multiple-procedure situation, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery services may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and 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 27620 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

27620 rates by state

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

How the 27620 rate is calculated

Each of 27620’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 27620

27620 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

27620 compared with similar codes

How to choose

27610Ankle arthrotomyExploration, drainage, or foreign body

Choose 27620 for open ankle-joint exploration, with or without biopsy. Choose 27610 when the documented arthrotomy includes drainage or removal of a loose or foreign body.

27625Ankle synovectomyStandard extent

27625 is for ankle synovectomy when removal of synovial lining is the main procedure; 27620 is for joint exploration, with biopsy optional.

27626Ankle synovectomyExtensive synovectomy

27626 describes extensive ankle synovectomy. It is distinguished from 27620 by the operative focus on extensive synovial tissue removal rather than exploration.

Codes related to 27620

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