CPT code 27871: Joint fusion, tibiofibular joint2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California
Reports operative fusion of the tibiofibular articulation, typically for persistent painful instability or other pathology requiring the joint to be surgically immobilized.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 27871 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 27871 covers
An orthopedic surgeon prepares the opposing tibial and fibular surfaces and stabilizes them so they can unite as one bone. The procedure is most often relevant to the distal tibiofibular articulation near the ankle, such as in selected cases of persistent painful instability or a problem following a syndesmotic injury. It is performed in an operating room; the operative report should identify the joint fused and the reason arthrodesis was chosen.
Report 27871 when the documented work is fusion of the tibiofibular joint, not treatment of an ankle joint alone or fixation of an acute syndesmotic disruption. The record should describe the pathology, joint preparation, fixation, and any grafting performed. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. For same-session procedures subject to the multiple-procedure rule, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures at 50%. Modifier 50 identifies bilateral surgery, paid at 150%. An assistant at surgery 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 27871 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 | $655.07 |
| Chico, CA | Unavailable | $649.94 |
| El Centro, CA | Unavailable | $650.25 |
| Fresno, CA | Unavailable | $649.94 |
| Hanford, CA | Unavailable | $649.94 |
| Los Angeles, CA | Unavailable | $689.19 |
| Madera, CA | Unavailable | $649.94 |
| Marin County, CA | Unavailable | $755.62 |
| Merced, CA | Unavailable | $649.94 |
| Modesto, CA | Unavailable | $649.94 |
| Napa, CA | Unavailable | $723.45 |
| Oxnard, CA | Unavailable | $682.35 |
| Redding, CA | Unavailable | $649.94 |
| Rest of California | Unavailable | $649.94 |
| Riverside, CA | Unavailable | $669.84 |
| Sacramento, CA | Unavailable | $674.24 |
| Salinas, CA | Unavailable | $671.59 |
| San Benito County, CA | Unavailable | $773.83 |
| San Diego, CA | Unavailable | $681.81 |
| San Francisco, CA | Unavailable | $753.52 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | Unavailable | $661.75 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | Unavailable | $765.24 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | Unavailable | $683.86 |
| Santa Maria, CA | Unavailable | $672.58 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | Unavailable | $690.22 |
| Stockton, CA | Unavailable | $649.94 |
| Vallejo, CA | Unavailable | $720.42 |
| Visalia, CA | Unavailable | $649.94 |
| Yuba City, CA | Unavailable | $649.94 |
How the 27871 rate is calculated
Each of 27871’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 · 27871
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work9.30
9.30 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense8.22
8.22 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.85
1.85 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
19.3700
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$646.98
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 27871
27871 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 27871
Joint fusion, tibiofibular joint
| 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) | 2 | Paid. |
| 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 · 27871
Joint fusion, tibiofibular joint
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
27871 without 50 · national facility
$646.98
Joint fusion, tibiofibular joint
27871-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$970.47
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).
27871 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
27871 vs 27829 vs 27870: Medicare rates
How to choose
- 27829Syndesmosis repairDistal tibiofibular joint
- Use 27829 for operative treatment of a distal tibiofibular syndesmosis disruption. Use 27871 when the operative objective is fusion of the tibiofibular joint.
- 27870Ankle fusionOpen approach
- 27870 fuses the ankle joint; 27871 fuses the tibiofibular joint. When both joints are separately fused, the operative documentation should distinguish the work on each.
27871 billing questions
How is 27871 different from 27829?
27871 reports fusion of the tibiofibular joint. Code 27829 describes operative treatment of a distal tibiofibular syndesmosis disruption, generally using stabilization rather than fusion.
Can 27871 be reported with ankle fusion?
It may be reported with 27870 when the surgeon separately fuses the tibiofibular joint and the ankle joint in the same session. The operative report should support each distinct joint procedure.
What documentation supports 27871?
Document the specific tibiofibular joint, the condition prompting fusion, the joint preparation and stabilization, and why fusion was performed rather than syndesmotic fixation.
How are bilateral procedures and same-session procedures paid?
Modifier 50 identifies bilateral surgery, which CMS pays at 150%. Under the standard multiple-procedure reduction, the highest-valued same-session procedure is paid in full and other procedures at 50%.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care for 90 days. An assistant at surgery may be paid; 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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