No office rate
This code applies to radical resection when the tumor is under 5 cm; 27616 is for a tumor measuring 5 cm or more.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
27615 Tumor resection Medicare reimbursement rates
Reports radical removal of a soft-tissue tumor under 5 cm in the leg or ankle, rather than a biopsy or limited excision. Compare 27615 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities.
Amounts below use the non-QP conversion factor for participating physicians. These are base physician payments before claim-level adjustments, not patient costs or total hospital charges.
What does Medicare pay for 27615?
The service location and office or facility setting determine which base rate applies. These are the supported base rates for the 109 payment areas shown below, using the same CMS release.
Office / nonfacility
No supported rate
These are locality ranges, not averages or address-specific quotes. A facility-setting amount covers the physician service; it does not include a hospital’s separate bill. Choose a locality below to inspect its calculation, compare other payment areas, or price a percentage of Medicare.
Where 27615 pays more and less
Musculoskeletal surgery
About 27615: Radical resection of small leg or ankle tumor
Reports radical removal of a soft-tissue tumor under 5 cm in the leg or ankle, rather than a biopsy or limited excision.
This service involves definitive, radical removal of a soft-tissue tumor in the leg or ankle region when the tumor is under 5 cm. The surgeon removes the lesion and the tissue needed for the planned resection; this is more extensive than sampling a mass or simply excising a localized lesion. Orthopedic oncologists and other surgeons who treat soft-tissue tumors may perform it in an operating room after diagnostic workup.
Choose the code based on the radical extent of the resection and the documented tumor size, not just the incision or specimen label. The operative report should identify the site, tumor size, depth, and extent of tissue removed. This major surgery includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in one 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 requires medical-necessity documentation; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation. Team surgery is not permitted.
CMS billing rules for 27615
- Global period
- Major surgery with a 90-day global period: the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included.
- Multiple procedures
- Standard multiple procedure reduction: the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50% when performed in the same session.
- Bilateral procedures
- Bilateral procedure with modifier 50 is paid at 150%.
- Assistant at surgery
- Assistant at surgery is paid only with documentation of medical necessity.
- Co-surgeons
- Co-surgeons paid only with supporting documentation.
- Team surgery
- Team surgery not permitted.
Where the value comes from
- Work RVU15.33 · 54%
- Practice expense (office) RVU9.61 · 34%
- Malpractice RVU3.29 · 12%
211
Medicare services in 2024 · #4271 by national volume
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.
27615 compared with similar codes
Office rate ranges across all CMS payment localities, from the same CMS release.
No office rate
27619 is for excision of a deep, subfascial tumor under 5 cm. Choose 27615 when the operative service is a radical resection.
$454.51–$681.10
27618 describes limited excision of a superficial tumor under 3 cm, not radical resection.
$540.28–$789.35
27614 is a deep soft-tissue biopsy for diagnosis; 27615 is definitive radical tumor removal.
See how rates vary across the country
27615 · Office / nonfacility · Non-QP. Choose a state to explore its payment localities. A range means the amount varies within that state.
Explore a state
Local rates. Clear comparisons.
Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.
View all state and territory rates as a table
| State / territory | Rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | No published base rate | 1 |
| AL | No published base rate | 1 |
| AR | No published base rate | 1 |
| AZ | No published base rate | 1 |
| CA | No published base rate | 29 |
| CO | No published base rate | 1 |
| CT | No published base rate | 1 |
| DC | No published base rate | 1 |
| DE | No published base rate | 1 |
| FL | No published base rate | 3 |
| GA | No published base rate | 2 |
| GU | No published base rate | 1 |
| HI | No published base rate | 1 |
| IA | No published base rate | 1 |
| ID | No published base rate | 1 |
| IL | No published base rate | 4 |
| IN | No published base rate | 1 |
| KS | No published base rate | 1 |
| KY | No published base rate | 1 |
| LA | No published base rate | 2 |
| MA | No published base rate | 2 |
| MD | No published base rate | 3 |
| ME | No published base rate | 2 |
| MI | No published base rate | 2 |
| MN | No published base rate | 1 |
| MO | No published base rate | 3 |
| MS | No published base rate | 1 |
| MT | No published base rate | 1 |
| NC | No published base rate | 1 |
| ND | No published base rate | 1 |
| NE | No published base rate | 1 |
| NH | No published base rate | 1 |
| NJ | No published base rate | 2 |
| NM | No published base rate | 1 |
| NV | No published base rate | 1 |
| NY | No published base rate | 5 |
| OH | No published base rate | 1 |
| OK | No published base rate | 1 |
| OR | No published base rate | 2 |
| PA | No published base rate | 2 |
| PR | No published base rate | 1 |
| RI | No published base rate | 1 |
| SC | No published base rate | 1 |
| SD | No published base rate | 1 |
| TN | No published base rate | 1 |
| TX | No published base rate | 8 |
| UT | No published base rate | 1 |
| VA | No published base rate | 2 |
| VI | No published base rate | 1 |
| VT | No published base rate | 1 |
| WA | No published base rate | 2 |
| WI | No published base rate | 1 |
| WV | No published base rate | 1 |
| WY | No published base rate | 1 |
Compare 27615 by payment locality
Find the payment area for your service address, then open its rate page for calculation inputs, release history and the percentage-of-Medicare tool. A city may cross payment-area boundaries; the ZIP lookup above helps resolve the location.
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Office Unavailable | Facility $855.09 |
| Alaska* | Office Unavailable | Facility $1170.45 |
| Arizona | Office Unavailable | Facility $917.13 |
| Arkansas | Office Unavailable | Facility $844.35 |
| Atlanta | Office Unavailable | Facility $971.67 |
| Austin | Office Unavailable | Facility $950.02 |
| Bakersfield | Office Unavailable | Facility $940.48 |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | Office Unavailable | Facility $1000.58 |
| Beaumont | Office Unavailable | Facility $906.22 |
| Brazoria | Office Unavailable | Facility $919.94 |
| Chicago | Office Unavailable | Facility $1090.40 |
| Chico | Office Unavailable | Facility $931.44 |
| Colorado | Office Unavailable | Facility $945.53 |
| Connecticut | Office Unavailable | Facility $1000.94 |
| Dallas | Office Unavailable | Facility $930.63 |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | Office Unavailable | Facility $1040.11 |
| Delaware | Office Unavailable | Facility $930.52 |
| Detroit | Office Unavailable | Facility $1007.06 |
| East St. Louis | Office Unavailable | Facility $1028.66 |
| El Centro | Office Unavailable | Facility $931.99 |
| Fort Lauderdale | Office Unavailable | Facility $1035.87 |
| Fort Worth | Office Unavailable | Facility $928.85 |
| Fresno | Office Unavailable | Facility $931.44 |
| Galveston | Office Unavailable | Facility $925.86 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | Office Unavailable | Facility $931.44 |
| Hawaii, Guam | Office Unavailable | Facility $940.62 |
| Houston | Office Unavailable | Facility $986.08 |
| Idaho | Office Unavailable | Facility $859.32 |
| Indiana | Office Unavailable | Facility $862.99 |
| Iowa | Office Unavailable | Facility $849.36 |
| Kansas | Office Unavailable | Facility $857.59 |
| Kentucky | Office Unavailable | Facility $897.94 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | Office Unavailable | Facility $985.72 |
| Madera | Office Unavailable | Facility $931.44 |
| Manhattan | Office Unavailable | Facility $1092.07 |
| Merced | Office Unavailable | Facility $931.44 |
| Metropolitan Boston | Office Unavailable | Facility $1014.08 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | Office Unavailable | Facility $920.80 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | Office Unavailable | Facility $986.49 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | Office Unavailable | Facility $927.72 |
| Miami | Office Unavailable | Facility $1124.09 |
| Minnesota | Office Unavailable | Facility $874.85 |
| Mississippi | Office Unavailable | Facility $869.61 |
| Modesto | Office Unavailable | Facility $931.44 |
| Montana** | Office Unavailable | Facility $942.69 |
| Napa | Office Unavailable | Facility $1023.17 |
| Nebraska | Office Unavailable | Facility $849.84 |
| Nevada** | Office Unavailable | Facility $924.88 |
| New Hampshire | Office Unavailable | Facility $942.33 |
| New Mexico | Office Unavailable | Facility $938.35 |
| New Orleans | Office Unavailable | Facility $938.91 |
| North Carolina | Office Unavailable | Facility $881.73 |
| North Dakota** | Office Unavailable | Facility $877.63 |
| Northern Nj | Office Unavailable | Facility $1034.00 |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | Office Unavailable | Facility $1130.52 |
| Ohio | Office Unavailable | Facility $915.86 |
| Oklahoma | Office Unavailable | Facility $884.06 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | Office Unavailable | Facility $974.24 |
| Portland | Office Unavailable | Facility $958.60 |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | Office Unavailable | Facility $1019.52 |
| Puerto Rico | Office Unavailable | Facility $944.79 |
| Queens | Office Unavailable | Facility $1082.67 |
| Redding | Office Unavailable | Facility $931.44 |
| Rest Of California | Office Unavailable | Facility $931.44 |
| Rest Of Florida | Office Unavailable | Facility $984.06 |
| Rest Of Georgia | Office Unavailable | Facility $929.34 |
| Rest Of Illinois | Office Unavailable | Facility $976.85 |
| Rest Of Louisiana | Office Unavailable | Facility $901.38 |
| Rest Of Maine | Office Unavailable | Facility $875.69 |
| Rest Of Maryland | Office Unavailable | Facility $942.87 |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | Office Unavailable | Facility $945.80 |
| Rest Of Michigan | Office Unavailable | Facility $929.16 |
| Rest Of Missouri | Office Unavailable | Facility $895.75 |
| Rest Of New Jersey | Office Unavailable | Facility $1003.58 |
| Rest Of New York | Office Unavailable | Facility $894.22 |
| Rest Of Oregon | Office Unavailable | Facility $908.99 |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | Office Unavailable | Facility $910.54 |
| Rest Of Texas | Office Unavailable | Facility $915.88 |
| Rest Of Washington | Office Unavailable | Facility $940.31 |
| Rhode Island | Office Unavailable | Facility $951.36 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | Office Unavailable | Facility $966.78 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | Office Unavailable | Facility $962.67 |
| Salinas | Office Unavailable | Facility $958.83 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | Office Unavailable | Facility $970.85 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | Office Unavailable | Facility $1063.70 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | Office Unavailable | Facility $1059.97 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | Office Unavailable | Facility $1090.12 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | Office Unavailable | Facility $1074.84 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | Office Unavailable | Facility $945.24 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | Office Unavailable | Facility $971.68 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | Office Unavailable | Facility $959.54 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | Office Unavailable | Facility $980.46 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | Office Unavailable | Facility $1021.26 |
| South Carolina | Office Unavailable | Facility $902.03 |
| South Dakota** | Office Unavailable | Facility $869.94 |
| Southern Maine | Office Unavailable | Facility $899.47 |
| Stockton | Office Unavailable | Facility $931.44 |
| Suburban Chicago | Office Unavailable | Facility $1039.99 |
| Tennessee | Office Unavailable | Facility $862.82 |
| Utah | Office Unavailable | Facility $912.44 |
| Vallejo | Office Unavailable | Facility $1017.79 |
| Vermont | Office Unavailable | Facility $885.41 |
| Virgin Islands | Office Unavailable | Facility $944.79 |
| Virginia | Office Unavailable | Facility $905.14 |
| Visalia | Office Unavailable | Facility $931.44 |
| West Virginia | Office Unavailable | Facility $948.22 |
| Wisconsin | Office Unavailable | Facility $853.38 |
| Wyoming** | Office Unavailable | Facility $914.34 |
| Yuba City | Office Unavailable | Facility $931.44 |
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27615 billing questions
How does this differ from 27616?
Both describe radical tumor resection in the leg or ankle region. Use 27615 for a tumor under 5 cm and 27616 for one measuring 5 cm or more.
When would 27619 be a better choice?
27619 describes excision of a deep, subfascial tumor under 5 cm. Use 27615 when the operative service is a radical resection, rather than that more limited excision.
Can a biopsy be reported as well?
A biopsy may be part of the diagnostic workup, but this code represents definitive radical removal. The operative record should distinguish any separately performed diagnostic procedure from the resection.
What documentation supports reporting 27615?
Document the leg or ankle site, tumor size, depth, and the radical extent of tissue removal. The record should support a tumor under 5 cm and distinguish the service from a biopsy or limited excision.
How are bilateral cases and surgical assistance handled?
Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity, and 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 indices and the applicable conversion factor. Unavailable or separately priced services are labeled rather than assigned a made-up amount.
Source: RVU26D. Effective 2026-10-01 through the day before 2027-01-01.
2,97127612,,Exploration of ankle joint,A,,7.95,7.01,NA,7.01,,1.25,16.21,16.21,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
2,97227613,,Biopsy lower leg soft tissue,A,,2.16,5.32,,2.03,,0.33,7.81,4.52,0,010,0.10,0.80,0.10,2,1,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
2,97327614,,Biopsy lower leg soft tissue,A,,5.66,11.69,,5.15,,0.92,18.27,11.73,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
2,97427615,,Resect leg/ankle tum < 5 cm,A,,15.33,9.61,NA,9.61,,3.29,28.23,28.23,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,0,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
2,97527616,,Resect leg/ankle tum 5 cm/>,A,,19.14,11.38,NA,11.38,,4.17,34.69,34.69,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,0,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
2,97627618,,Exc leg/ankle tum < 3 cm,A,,3.86,10.88,,4.29,,0.78,15.52,8.93,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
2,97727619,,Exc leg/ankle tum deep <5 cm,A,,6.74,5.19,NA,5.19,,1.13,13.06,13.06,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00