CPT code 27625: Ankle synovectomy, standard extent2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California

CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 27625 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.

What 27625 covers

An orthopedic surgeon removes abnormal synovial tissue from the ankle joint through an open approach. The procedure may be performed for persistent synovitis, including synovial inflammation associated with inflammatory arthritis, when removing the affected lining is the planned treatment. It is typically performed in an operating room, with the operative report identifying the joint and describing the tissue removed and the extent of the synovectomy.

Choose this code for a standard-extent ankle synovectomy; use the extensive sibling code when the documented resection meets that greater extent. The operative report should support the indication, open approach, ankle site, and scope of tissue removal. 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 the same 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 may be made; 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 27625 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

How the 27625 rate is calculated

Each of 27625’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 27625

27625 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

27625 compared with similar codes

How to choose

27626Ankle synovectomyExtensive synovectomy

Both are open ankle synovectomies; select 27626 when the operative report supports an extensive resection rather than standard extent.

29895Ankle arthroscopyPartial synovectomy

29895 describes arthroscopic partial ankle synovectomy. This code describes an open synovectomy.

29898Ankle arthroscopyExtensive debridement

29898 is an arthroscopic ankle debridement code. Choose it when the documented service is extensive arthroscopic debridement, not open synovial tissue removal.

Codes related to 27625

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