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Billing code 27435: Knee capsulotomyMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports surgical release of the posterior knee capsule, typically to improve motion when capsular contracture limits knee extension.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities1.1K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $760.54 for 27435 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 27435

Knee capsulotomy

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
10.61
Total RVUs
22.77
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$760.54

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 27435 → · Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

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

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 27435 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 27435 covers

This procedure releases the posterior capsule of the knee through a surgical incision. An orthopedic surgeon may perform it for a fixed knee flexion contracture that restricts extension, often in a facility setting and sometimes as part of a broader operation for a stiff knee. The operative report should identify the posterior capsular release and the affected knee; a general description of knee exposure alone does not establish this service.

Report the code for the posterior release itself, not for an arthrotomy performed for another purpose, such as drainage or exploration. It has a 90-day global period that includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, 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%. 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 27435 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

27435 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$686.96
Alaska*Unavailable$926.19
ArizonaUnavailable$739.61
ArkansasUnavailable$677.88
AtlantaUnavailable$781.76
AustinUnavailable$772.11
BakersfieldUnavailable$770.31
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$807.96
BeaumontUnavailable$725.39
BrazoriaUnavailable$744.14

27435 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

View every state and territory as a table
27435 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 27435 rate is calculated

Each of 27435’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 · 27435

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 10.61Practice expense 9.95Malpractice 2.21

22.7700 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$760.54

All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 27435

27435 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 27435

Knee capsulotomy

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period090Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)2Paid.
Co-surgeons (62)1Permitted with supporting documentation.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.10/0.69/0.21Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 27435

Knee capsulotomy

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.

  • 24 Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79 Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58 Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78 Unplanned return to the operating room for a related complication
SurgeryVisit
Sep 23, 2026Jan 10, 2027

Pre-op dayGlobal period

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

27435 without 50 · national facility

$760.54

Knee capsulotomy

27435-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$1,140.81

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).

When to use modifier 50

27435 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

27435 vs 27310 vs 27425 vs 27430: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 27435
    Knee capsulotomy · 10.61 wRVU
    —
  • 27310
    Knee arthrotomy · 9.75 wRVU
    —
  • 27425
    Patellar release · 5.26 wRVU
    —
  • 27430
    Quadricepsplasty · 9.91 wRVU
    —

How to choose

27310Knee arthrotomy
This code describes a knee arthrotomy for exploration, drainage, or foreign-body removal; 27435 is for posterior capsular release.
27425Patellar release
This code releases the lateral retinaculum. Use 27435 for release of the posterior knee capsule, not a lateral patellar release.
27430Quadricepsplasty
Quadricepsplasty addresses restriction involving the quadriceps mechanism; 27435 releases the posterior capsule. Both require documentation when performed.

Codes related to 27435

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

Codes related to 27435
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Often billed with
27430QuadricepsplastyMay accompany posterior release when surgery addresses both capsular and quadriceps-related restriction.No office rate

27435 billing questions

When should this code be selected instead of a knee arthrotomy code?

Use this code for a documented posterior capsular release to improve motion. An arthrotomy code for exploration, drainage, or foreign-body removal describes a different purpose.

Does this code include a quadricepsplasty?

No. The posterior capsular release and a quadricepsplasty address different tissues; report a separately performed quadricepsplasty when the operative documentation supports it.

What documentation supports the service?

Document the knee treated, the posterior capsule release, and the contracture or motion restriction addressed. The record should distinguish the release from routine exposure or another knee procedure.

How is bilateral surgery reported?

CMS identifies this as a bilateral procedure; modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Document the release on both knees.

What postoperative care is included?

The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care through 90 days after surgery.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.

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
RVUs for 27435PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,891 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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