CPT code 27826: Fracture repair, posterior malleolus2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California

CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 27826 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 27826 covers

This code describes open reduction of a fracture of the posterior malleolus, the back portion of the distal tibia at the ankle. An orthopedic surgeon typically exposes the fracture, restores the fragment’s position, and stabilizes it when needed, such as with screws or a plate. The procedure is generally performed in an operating room for a fracture requiring open treatment; internal fixation is included when performed.

Select the code when the operative report identifies open treatment of the posterior malleolus, distinguishing it from closed treatment and from repair of a distal tibial pilon fracture. Documentation should identify the fracture site, the open reduction, and any fixation performed. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. A bilateral procedure reported with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment and co-surgeons are permitted; 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 27826 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 27826 rate is calculated

Each of 27826’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 27826

27826 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

27826 compared with similar codes

How to choose

27824Fracture treatmentDistal tibia, no manipulation

27824 is for closed treatment of a posterior malleolus fracture without manipulation; 27826 is for open treatment.

27825Fracture treatmentDistal tibia, with manipulation

27825 is for closed treatment of a posterior malleolus fracture with manipulation. Open reduction points to 27826 instead.

27827Pilon fracture repairTibia only

27827 addresses open treatment of a distal tibial plafond fracture involving the tibia alone; 27826 is for a posterior malleolus fracture.

27823Ankle fracture repairPosterior lip fixation

27823 describes open treatment of a trimalleolar fracture with posterior-lip fixation. Use 27826 when the operative service is for a posterior malleolus fracture rather than that trimalleolar fracture pattern.

Codes related to 27826

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