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Billing code 27600: Leg decompressionMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports surgical release of the lower leg’s anterior and/or lateral compartment, typically to relieve pressure from compartment syndrome.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities511 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $375.76 for 27600 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 27600

Leg decompression

Work RVUs
5.88
Total RVUs
11.25
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$375.76

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 27600 →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 27600 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 27600 covers

This operation releases the anterior and/or lateral compartment of the lower leg to relieve pressure on muscle, nerves, and blood flow. Orthopedic or trauma surgeons commonly perform it for acute compartment syndrome, such as pressure developing after a fracture or other injury. The procedure is generally performed in an operating room, often in a hospital facility.

Select this code when the operative report supports release of the anterior and/or lateral compartment, rather than the posterior compartment alone or two or more compartments. Document the indication, side, and compartments released; the extent of release distinguishes this service from 27601 and 27602. 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 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 is restricted; 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 27600 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

27600 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$340.75
Alaska*Unavailable$464.67
ArizonaUnavailable$365.60
ArkansasUnavailable$336.45
AtlantaUnavailable$386.76
AustinUnavailable$379.55
BakersfieldUnavailable$376.87
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$398.68
BeaumontUnavailable$360.39
BrazoriaUnavailable$367.12

27600 rates by state

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

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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
27600 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 27600 rate is calculated

Each of 27600’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 · 27600

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Work5.88

5.88 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense4.15

4.15 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice1.22

1.22 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

11.2500

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$375.76

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 27600

27600 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 27600

Leg decompression

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)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
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 · 27600

Leg decompression

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.

  • 24Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78Unplanned 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

27600 without 50 · national facility

$375.76

Leg decompression

27600-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$563.64

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

27600 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

  • 27600

    Leg decompression5.88 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 27601

    Leg fasciotomy5.9 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 27602

    Leg decompression7.62 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 27603

    Deep drainage5.1 wRVU

    $544.77

How to choose

27601Leg fasciotomy
27601 is for posterior-compartment decompression. Use 27600 for anterior and/or lateral compartment release.
27602Leg decompression
27602 describes decompression involving two or more compartments. Choose 27600 when the documented release is limited to the anterior and/or lateral compartment pattern.
27603Deep drainage
27603 is for draining a lower-leg lesion, not releasing a compartment to relieve pressure.

Codes related to 27600

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

Codes related to 27600
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
27601Leg fasciotomyLower-leg decompression for the posterior compartment.No office rate
27602Leg decompressionLower-leg decompression involving two or more compartments.No office rate

27600 billing questions

How do I choose between 27600, 27601, and 27602?

Use 27600 for release of the anterior and/or lateral compartment, 27601 for the posterior compartment, and 27602 when two or more compartments are released. Base the choice on the compartments documented in the operative report.

What operative documentation supports 27600?

The report should identify the indication, side, and compartments released. It should support anterior and/or lateral compartment decompression rather than a different compartment pattern.

What does the 90-day global period include?

It includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care for 90 days. Medicare treats those services as part of the global surgical period.

Can an assistant surgeon be paid for 27600?

CMS lists a statutory restriction on assistant-at-surgery payment for this code. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is not permitted.

How is bilateral 27600 reported for Medicare?

When the procedure is bilateral, report modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.

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 27600PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,962 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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