Billing code 27630: Tendon lesion excisionMedicare rate & RVUs
Reports surgical removal of a lesion arising from a tendon sheath or related capsule in the leg or ankle, such as a localized cyst.
Medicare pays $567.15 for 27630 nationally in the office and $346.70 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $501.61–$742.59.
Medicare rate · 27630
Tendon lesion excision
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 4.82
- Total RVUs
- 16.98
- Global days
- 090
National rate · 2026
$567.15
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 27630 → · 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
What 27630 covers
This operation removes a focal lesion arising from a tendon sheath or related capsule in the leg or ankle. A typical example is a localized cyst associated with a tendon sheath. Orthopedic surgeons commonly perform the procedure in a hospital outpatient department or ambulatory surgery center; it may also be performed in an office setting. The operative record should identify the lesion’s site and its relationship to the tendon sheath or capsule, rather than describing only a nearby soft-tissue mass.
Report the code when the surgeon excises the tendon-sheath or capsular lesion, not when the service is limited to diagnostic tissue sampling or removal of a separate soft-tissue mass. Documentation should describe the operative approach and removal. CMS assigns a 90-day major-surgery global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For bilateral procedures with modifier 50, CMS pays at 150%. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted; co-surgeons and team surgery are 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 27630 pays more and less
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
109 payment localities
$501.61 to $742.59
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $508.95 | $316.06 |
| Alaska* | $661.68 | $426.91 |
| Arizona | $551.84 | $338.23 |
| Arkansas | $501.61 | $312.24 |
| Atlanta | $578.58 | $354.60 |
| Austin | $586.89 | $353.66 |
| Bakersfield | $597.49 | $355.88 |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $603.32 | $366.78 |
| Beaumont | $531.05 | $330.44 |
| Brazoria | $559.71 | $341.24 |
| Chicago | $601.33 | $379.78 |
| Chico | $595.41 | $353.80 |
| Colorado | $588.27 | $353.71 |
| Connecticut | $604.84 | $367.42 |
| Dallas | $563.65 | $344.09 |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $646.57 | $386.89 |
| Delaware | $560.94 | $343.14 |
| Detroit | $570.27 | $357.54 |
| East St. Louis | $560.96 | $358.15 |
| El Centro | $595.53 | $353.92 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $591.55 | $368.23 |
| Fort Worth | $560.14 | $342.78 |
| Fresno | $595.41 | $353.80 |
| Galveston | $561.62 | $342.72 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $595.41 | $353.80 |
| Hawaii, Guam | $609.37 | $358.72 |
| Houston | $574.80 | $355.90 |
| Idaho | $523.91 | $321.09 |
| Indiana | $526.89 | $322.54 |
| Iowa | $520.17 | $318.46 |
| Kansas | $518.54 | $319.25 |
| Kentucky | $522.69 | $326.71 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $635.59 | $374.81 |
| Madera | $595.41 | $353.80 |
| Manhattan | $653.44 | $397.29 |
| Merced | $595.41 | $353.80 |
| Metropolitan Boston | $645.23 | $382.02 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $543.29 | $336.29 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $590.35 | $360.87 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $548.85 | $338.99 |
| Miami | $619.58 | $390.10 |
| Minnesota | $561.30 | $334.46 |
| Mississippi | $507.76 | $317.95 |
| Modesto | $595.41 | $353.80 |
| Montana** | $567.10 | $346.65 |
| Napa | $686.97 | $396.42 |
| Nebraska | $522.77 | $319.30 |
| Nevada** | $563.51 | $342.85 |
| New Hampshire | $579.81 | $350.32 |
| New Mexico | $540.27 | $338.12 |
| New Orleans | $547.87 | $340.43 |
| North Carolina | $532.86 | $327.19 |
| North Dakota** | $552.86 | $332.42 |
| Northern Nj | $640.06 | $384.34 |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $670.28 | $408.17 |
| Ohio | $534.10 | $332.83 |
| Oklahoma | $520.90 | $324.04 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $632.13 | $371.56 |
| Portland | $605.98 | $361.07 |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $615.74 | $374.35 |
| Puerto Rico | $570.99 | $348.12 |
| Queens | $657.62 | $397.06 |
| Redding | $595.41 | $353.80 |
| Rest Of California | $595.41 | $353.80 |
| Rest Of Florida | $562.43 | $351.68 |
| Rest Of Georgia | $530.50 | $333.86 |
| Rest Of Illinois | $547.44 | $346.18 |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $522.20 | $327.10 |
| Rest Of Maine | $527.49 | $324.68 |
| Rest Of Maryland | $571.37 | $348.28 |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $585.09 | $352.96 |
| Rest Of Michigan | $537.01 | $335.74 |
| Rest Of Missouri | $513.79 | $323.77 |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $611.07 | $370.35 |
| Rest Of New York | $540.90 | $331.48 |
| Rest Of Oregon | $558.48 | $338.91 |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $534.49 | $332.12 |
| Rest Of Texas | $545.33 | $336.12 |
| Rest Of Washington | $583.74 | $351.61 |
| Rhode Island | $580.22 | $352.50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $603.19 | $361.58 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $624.07 | $367.69 |
| Salinas | $621.73 | $366.24 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $635.86 | $372.20 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $726.09 | $415.27 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $725.28 | $414.45 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $742.59 | $424.71 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $739.25 | $421.36 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $611.84 | $360.75 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $641.52 | $373.68 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $623.93 | $366.89 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $647.94 | $377.23 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $657.53 | $387.05 |
| South Carolina | $534.50 | $330.81 |
| South Dakota** | $551.18 | $330.73 |
| Southern Maine | $554.83 | $336.37 |
| Stockton | $595.41 | $353.80 |
| Suburban Chicago | $597.16 | $370.76 |
| Tennessee | $521.24 | $320.86 |
| Utah | $541.77 | $334.55 |
| Vallejo | $685.79 | $395.24 |
| Vermont | $551.45 | $333.20 |
| Virgin Islands | $570.99 | $348.12 |
| Virginia | $553.58 | $336.88 |
| Visalia | $595.41 | $353.80 |
| West Virginia | $527.46 | $335.89 |
| Wisconsin | $534.46 | $323.27 |
| Wyoming** | $560.89 | $340.45 |
| Yuba City | $595.41 | $353.80 |
27630 rates by state
Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.
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.
$501.61
$669.00
Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.
View every state and territory as a table
| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $661.68 | 1 |
| AL | $508.95 | 1 |
| AR | $501.61 | 1 |
| AZ | $551.84 | 1 |
| CA | $595.41–$742.59 | 29 |
| CO | $588.27 | 1 |
| CT | $604.84 | 1 |
| DC | $646.57 | 1 |
| DE | $560.94 | 1 |
| FL | $562.43–$619.58 | 3 |
| GA | $530.50–$578.58 | 2 |
| GU | $609.37 | 1 |
| HI | $609.37 | 1 |
| IA | $520.17 | 1 |
| ID | $523.91 | 1 |
| IL | $547.44–$601.33 | 4 |
| IN | $526.89 | 1 |
| KS | $518.54 | 1 |
| KY | $522.69 | 1 |
| LA | $522.20–$547.87 | 2 |
| MA | $585.09–$645.23 | 2 |
| MD | $571.37–$646.57 | 3 |
| ME | $527.49–$554.83 | 2 |
| MI | $537.01–$570.27 | 2 |
| MN | $561.30 | 1 |
| MO | $513.79–$548.85 | 3 |
| MS | $507.76 | 1 |
| MT | $567.10 | 1 |
| NC | $532.86 | 1 |
| ND | $552.86 | 1 |
| NE | $522.77 | 1 |
| NH | $579.81 | 1 |
| NJ | $611.07–$640.06 | 2 |
| NM | $540.27 | 1 |
| NV | $563.51 | 1 |
| NY | $540.90–$670.28 | 5 |
| OH | $534.10 | 1 |
| OK | $520.90 | 1 |
| OR | $558.48–$605.98 | 2 |
| PA | $534.49–$590.35 | 2 |
| PR | $570.99 | 1 |
| RI | $580.22 | 1 |
| SC | $534.50 | 1 |
| SD | $551.18 | 1 |
| TN | $521.24 | 1 |
| TX | $531.05–$586.89 | 8 |
| UT | $541.77 | 1 |
| VA | $553.58–$646.57 | 2 |
| VI | $570.99 | 1 |
| VT | $551.45 | 1 |
| WA | $583.74–$657.53 | 2 |
| WI | $534.46 | 1 |
| WV | $527.46 | 1 |
| WY | $560.89 | 1 |
How the 27630 rate is calculated
Each of 27630’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 · 27630
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 4.82Practice expense 11.44Malpractice 0.72
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 27630
27630 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 27630
Tendon lesion excision
| 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) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| 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 · 27630
Tendon lesion excision
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
27630 without 50 · national office
$567.15
Tendon lesion excision
27630-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$850.73
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).
27630 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
27630 vs 27618 vs 27619 vs 27625: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 27618Soft-tissue excision
- This code is for a small superficial soft-tissue lesion of the leg or ankle. Choose 27630 when the lesion arises from a tendon sheath or related capsule.
- 27619Soft-tissue excision
- This code addresses a deep soft-tissue lesion under 5 cm. Choose 27630 based on tendon-sheath or capsular origin, not the lesion’s depth alone.
- 27625Ankle synovectomy
- This code removes ankle-joint lining. It is distinct from excision of a focal lesion arising from a tendon sheath or related capsule.
27630 billing questions
How is this different from excision of a leg or ankle soft-tissue mass?
Use this code when the lesion arises from a tendon sheath or related capsule. Codes for soft-tissue lesions are selected when the mass is in the surrounding tissue, using its depth and size.
What operative documentation supports this code?
Document the leg or ankle site, the lesion’s relationship to the tendon sheath or capsule, and that the lesion was excised. A description of a mass without its anatomic origin may not distinguish this service from soft-tissue excision.
Can a biopsy or exploration be reported separately?
The code represents excision of the tendon-sheath or capsular lesion, rather than a service limited to biopsy or exploration. The operative note should clarify whether the lesion was removed or only sampled.
How does CMS handle bilateral procedures and multiple procedures?
For a bilateral procedure reported with modifier 50, CMS pays at 150%. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%.
Are assistant surgeons or co-surgeons payable?
CMS applies a statutory restriction to assistant-at-surgery payment for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are 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
Fee sheets
Put 27630 and the rest of your codes on one sheet
Build a fee sheet from your own code list at your locality, put your payer contracts beside Medicare, and see what changed each quarter.
Build my fee sheetOr price your code list free →