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CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

27685 in Austin

Office / nonfacility

$703.77

Base rate per service

Facility setting

$451.81

Base rate per service

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.

Orthopedic surgery

About 27685: Single lower leg or ankle tendon length adjustment

Reports surgical lengthening or shortening of one tendon in the leg or ankle, such as tendon length adjustment for a fixed deformity.

An orthopedic or podiatric surgeon surgically lengthens or shortens one tendon in the leg or ankle to change its effective length. A familiar example is lengthening the Achilles tendon to address a fixed ankle or foot deformity associated with tendon contracture. The procedure is generally performed in an operating room or ambulatory surgery setting.

Select this code when the operative work changes the length of a single tendon; document the tendon treated, the side, the reason for changing its length, and the technique performed. For each additional tendon treated, 27686 is the related add-on code rather than another unit of 27685. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are reduced to 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be allowed; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is not permitted.

CMS billing rules for 27685

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 may be paid.
Co-surgeons
Co-surgeons paid only with supporting documentation.
Team surgery
Team surgery not permitted.

Where the value comes from

  • Work RVU6.52 · 32%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU12.97 · 64%
  • Malpractice RVU0.92 · 5%

5.4K

Medicare services in 2024 · #1822 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.

27685 compared with similar codes

Office rates for Austin, from the same CMS release.

27686

Tendon adjustment

Multiple tendons, same incision

No office rate

27685 covers length adjustment of one tendon; 27686 is reported for each additional tendon treated.

27687

Calf tendon revision

Gastrocnemius recession

No office rate

27687 describes gastrocnemius recession. Use it when the operative target is the gastrocnemius rather than length adjustment of a single leg or ankle tendon.

27680

Tendon release

Single leg or ankle tendon

No office rate

27680 releases adhesions around a tendon to improve glide. It is not the code for surgically lengthening or shortening that tendon.

27690

Tendon transfer

Single lower-leg tendon

No office rate

27690 describes transfer of a superficial tendon to redirect its function; 27685 changes a tendon’s length without describing a transfer.

The same code, a different location

How does Austin compare?

In Beaumont, the office rate for 27685 is $640.54—$63.23 lower than the $703.77 rate in Austin. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

27685 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. Austin · This locality

    $703.77

  2. Beaumont

    $640.54

    $63.23 lower than Austin

  3. Brazoria

    $672.80

    $30.97 lower than Austin

  4. Dallas

    $677.58

    $26.19 lower than Austin

  5. Fort Worth

    $673.64

    $30.13 lower than Austin

  6. Galveston

    $675.14

    $28.63 lower than Austin

  7. Houston

    $691.98

    $11.79 lower than Austin

Other payment areas listed in Texas appear first, followed by selected cross-country examples. The chart compares amounts, not distance.

Across 109 of 109 CMS payment localities with a supported office rate, 27685 ranges from $605.73 in Arkansas to $882.89 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty). This is a geographic range, not an average.

The code’s RVUs stay the same in these comparisons. Geographic adjustments to work, practice expense and malpractice change the dollar amount. A city name alone may not identify the payment area for a service address.

Compare all 108 other payment areas

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 27685

    Office

    $656.64

    Facility

    $430.64

    $47.13 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty)

    California · 27685

    Office

    $759.59

    Facility

    $477.86

    $55.82 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 27685

    Office

    $774.06

    Facility

    $493.52

    $70.29 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 27685

    Office

    $746.46

    Facility

    $498.55

    $42.69 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 27685

    Office

    $725.20

    Facility

    $485.86

    $21.43 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 27685

    Office

    $783.84

    Facility

    $507.11

    $80.07 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 27685

    Office

    $804.96

    Facility

    $551.33

    $101.19 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 27685

    Office

    $614.22

    Facility

    $405.84

    $89.55 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 27685

    Office

    $605.73

    Facility

    $401.16

    $98.04 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 27685

    Office

    $663.86

    Facility

    $433.09

    $39.91 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Bakersfield

    California · 27685

    Office

    $715.42

    Facility

    $454.41

    $11.65 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Chico

    California · 27685

    Office

    $712.74

    Facility

    $451.73

    $8.97 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • El Centro

    California · 27685

    Office

    $712.90

    Facility

    $451.89

    $9.13 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Fresno

    California · 27685

    Office

    $712.74

    Facility

    $451.73

    $8.97 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Hanford-Corcoran

    California · 27685

    Office

    $712.74

    Facility

    $451.73

    $8.97 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Madera

    California · 27685

    Office

    $712.74

    Facility

    $451.73

    $8.97 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Merced

    California · 27685

    Office

    $712.74

    Facility

    $451.73

    $8.97 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 27685

    Office

    $712.74

    Facility

    $451.73

    $8.97 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 27685

    Office

    $818.07

    Facility

    $504.19

    $114.30 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 27685

    Office

    $755.07

    Facility

    $473.58

    $51.30 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · 27685

    Office

    $712.74

    Facility

    $451.73

    $8.97 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 27685

    Office

    $712.74

    Facility

    $451.73

    $8.97 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 27685

    Office

    $722.70

    Facility

    $461.69

    $18.93 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 27685

    Office

    $745.91

    Facility

    $468.94

    $42.14 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 27685

    Office

    $743.09

    Facility

    $467.07

    $39.32 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 27685

    Office

    $759.08

    Facility

    $474.26

    $55.31 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 27685

    Office

    $863.39

    Facility

    $527.60

    $159.62 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty)

    California · 27685

    Office

    $862.35

    Facility

    $526.56

    $158.58 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty)

    California · 27685

    Office

    $882.89

    Facility

    $539.48

    $179.12 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty)

    California · 27685

    Office

    $878.62

    Facility

    $535.21

    $174.85 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 27685

    Office

    $731.37

    Facility

    $460.12

    $27.60 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 27685

    Office

    $765.17

    Facility

    $475.82

    $61.40 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 27685

    Office

    $745.46

    Facility

    $467.78

    $41.69 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 27685

    Office

    $772.76

    Facility

    $480.31

    $68.99 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 27685

    Office

    $712.74

    Facility

    $451.73

    $8.97 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 27685

    Office

    $816.57

    Facility

    $502.69

    $112.80 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 27685

    Office

    $712.74

    Facility

    $451.73

    $8.97 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 27685

    Office

    $712.74

    Facility

    $451.73

    $8.97 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 27685

    Office

    $705.32

    Facility

    $451.93

    $1.55 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 27685

    Office

    $725.88

    Facility

    $469.39

    $22.11 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 27685

    Office

    $674.50

    Facility

    $439.21

    $29.27 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 27685

    Office

    $712.17

    Facility

    $470.93

    $8.40 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 27685

    Office

    $678.11

    Facility

    $450.44

    $25.66 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 27685

    Office

    $695.47

    Facility

    $453.51

    $8.30 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 27685

    Office

    $640.83

    Facility

    $428.40

    $62.94 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 27685

    Office

    $728.13

    Facility

    $457.35

    $24.36 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 27685

    Office

    $626.36

    Facility

    $408.45

    $77.41 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 27685

    Office

    $630.86

    Facility

    $411.76

    $72.91 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 27685

    Office

    $678.21

    Facility

    $459.12

    $25.56 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 27685

    Office

    $661.32

    Facility

    $443.89

    $42.45 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 27685

    Office

    $718.66

    Facility

    $474.08

    $14.89 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 27685

    Office

    $634.29

    Facility

    $413.53

    $69.48 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 27685

    Office

    $624.88

    Facility

    $409.60

    $78.89 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 27685

    Office

    $631.01

    Facility

    $419.30

    $72.76 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 27685

    Office

    $660.33

    Facility

    $436.23

    $43.44 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 27685

    Office

    $630.60

    Facility

    $419.84

    $73.17 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 27685

    Office

    $771.30

    Facility

    $486.95

    $67.53 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 27685

    Office

    $701.92

    Facility

    $451.15

    $1.85 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 27685

    Office

    $724.10

    Facility

    $468.57

    $20.33 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 27685

    Office

    $686.57

    Facility

    $445.56

    $17.20 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 27685

    Office

    $635.44

    Facility

    $416.34

    $68.33 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 27685

    Office

    $666.47

    Facility

    $430.47

    $37.30 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 27685

    Office

    $687.63

    Facility

    $457.82

    $16.14 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 27685

    Office

    $647.99

    Facility

    $430.56

    $55.78 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 27685

    Office

    $672.64

    Facility

    $427.59

    $31.13 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 27685

    Office

    $654.58

    Facility

    $430.96

    $49.19 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 27685

    Office

    $660.98

    Facility

    $434.26

    $42.79 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 27685

    Office

    $621.13

    Facility

    $415.85

    $82.64 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 27685

    Office

    $613.48

    Facility

    $408.43

    $90.29 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 27685

    Office

    $681.65

    Facility

    $443.50

    $22.12 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 27685

    Office

    $641.59

    Facility

    $419.40

    $62.18 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 27685

    Office

    $663.46

    Facility

    $425.31

    $40.31 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 27685

    Office

    $629.24

    Facility

    $409.43

    $74.53 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 27685

    Office

    $695.63

    Facility

    $447.72

    $8.14 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 27685

    Office

    $766.84

    Facility

    $490.58

    $63.07 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 27685

    Office

    $733.26

    Facility

    $473.20

    $29.49 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 27685

    Office

    $651.93

    Facility

    $433.55

    $51.84 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 27685

    Office

    $677.01

    Facility

    $438.63

    $26.76 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 27685

    Office

    $803.86

    Facility

    $520.70

    $100.09 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 27685

    Office

    $739.12

    Facility

    $478.35

    $35.35 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 27685

    Office

    $788.08

    Facility

    $506.58

    $84.31 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 27685

    Office

    $650.93

    Facility

    $424.68

    $52.84 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 27685

    Office

    $644.27

    Facility

    $426.84

    $59.50 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 27685

    Office

    $628.51

    Facility

    $415.84

    $75.26 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 27685

    Office

    $725.42

    Facility

    $460.83

    $21.65 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 27685

    Office

    $670.85

    Facility

    $433.66

    $32.92 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 27685

    Office

    $709.32

    Facility

    $461.41

    $5.55 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 27685

    Office

    $644.50

    Facility

    $425.88

    $59.27 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 27685

    Office

    $686.02

    Facility

    $445.25

    $17.75 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 27685

    Office

    $696.83

    Facility

    $450.82

    $6.94 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 27685

    Office

    $644.18

    Facility

    $424.13

    $59.59 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 27685

    Office

    $661.31

    Facility

    $423.16

    $42.46 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 27685

    Office

    $628.06

    Facility

    $411.59

    $75.71 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 27685

    Office

    $652.59

    Facility

    $428.73

    $51.18 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 27685

    Office

    $665.31

    Facility

    $431.21

    $38.46 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 27685

    Office

    $686.02

    Facility

    $445.25

    $17.75 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 27685

    Office

    $662.20

    Facility

    $426.43

    $41.57 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 27685

    Office

    $700.16

    Facility

    $449.39

    $3.61 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 27685

    Office

    $785.32

    Facility

    $493.11

    $81.55 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 27685

    Office

    $642.25

    Facility

    $414.11

    $61.52 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 27685

    Office

    $638.21

    Facility

    $431.26

    $65.56 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 27685

    Office

    $673.72

    Facility

    $435.57

    $30.05 lower than Austin for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

27685 · Office / nonfacility · Non-QP. Choose a state to explore its payment localities. A range means the amount varies within that state.

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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.

$605.73

$804.96

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$804.961
AL$614.221
AR$605.731
AZ$663.861
CA$712.74–$882.8929
CO$705.321
CT$725.881
DC$774.061
DE$674.501
FL$678.11–$746.463
GA$640.83–$695.472
GU$728.131
HI$728.131
IA$626.361
ID$630.861
IL$661.32–$725.204
IN$634.291
KS$624.881
KY$631.011
LA$630.60–$660.332
MA$701.92–$771.302
MD$686.57–$774.063
ME$635.44–$666.472
MI$647.99–$687.632
MN$672.641
MO$621.13–$660.983
MS$613.481
MT$681.651
NC$641.591
ND$663.461
NE$629.241
NH$695.631
NJ$733.26–$766.842
NM$651.931
NV$677.011
NY$650.93–$803.865
OH$644.271
OK$628.511
OR$670.85–$725.422
PA$644.50–$709.322
PR$686.021
RI$696.831
SC$644.181
SD$661.311
TN$628.061
TX$640.54–$703.778
UT$652.591
VA$665.31–$774.062
VI$686.021
VT$662.201
WA$700.16–$785.322
WI$642.251
WV$638.211
WY$673.721

Explore 27685 on the national rate map →

Where does this rate apply?

Austin is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 31 cities and communities in Texas, including the examples shown here.

Some communities span more than one payment area. Follow a city link to compare all of its mapped areas, or check the service-location ZIP above for an address-level starting point.

Browse all communities in Texas →

Why are the office and facility amounts different?

For 27685 in Austin, the physician’s office rate is $703.77 and the facility-setting rate is $451.81: a difference of $251.96.

The calculation uses a different practice-expense RVU for each setting. Both amounts here are physician fee-schedule amounts. The facility figure does not include a hospital’s separate charges, so this comparison does not tell you the total cost of receiving care in each setting.

See the inputs behind this difference →

Use this rate

What is a percentage of Medicare worth?

Turn a percentage into dollars for 27685 in Austin. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$774.15

$703.77 × 110% = $774.15

A contract may specify another Medicare year or additional adjustments. This is percentage arithmetic on the displayed base rate, not a claim adjudication.

Working with a whole code list?

Compare an offer across your annual code mix, including an older Medicare schedule or flat per-code rates.

Compare your contract offer →

How this local rate is calculated

Each RVU component is multiplied by its own geographic practice cost index (GPCI). The three adjusted components are added, then multiplied by the conversion factor. These are the inputs used for 27685 in Austin.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

3,005

Code
27685
Physician work
6.52
Practice expense
12.97
Malpractice
0.92

GPCI2026.csv

96

Locality
Austin
Physician work
1.002
Practice expense
1.058
Malpractice
0.886
Office / nonfacility calculation for 27685 in Austin
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work6.52× 1.0026.5330
Practice expense12.97× 1.05813.7223
Malpractice0.92× 0.8860.8151
Total RVUs21.0704
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, Austin$703.77

Open 27685 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work6.521.002
Practice expense12.971.058
Malpractice0.920.886

(6.52 × 1.002 + 12.97 × 1.058 + 0.92 × 0.886) × $33.4009 = $703.77

Facility

Facility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work6.521.002
Practice expense5.841.058
Malpractice0.920.886

(6.52 × 1.002 + 5.84 × 1.058 + 0.92 × 0.886) × $33.4009 = $451.81

The office and facility calculations use their respective practice-expense RVUs. The facility amount here is the physician fee, not a separate hospital or facility bill.

How this rate has changed

27685 · Office / nonfacility

$703.77

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $49.29 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $654.48 to $703.77 (7.5%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $654.48changed to$703.77

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 6.69 changed to 6.52
    • Practice expense RVU 12.17 changed to 12.97
    • Malpractice RVU 0.89 changed to 0.92
    • Work GPCI 1.000 changed to 1.002
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.046 changed to 1.058
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.914 changed to 0.886

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    Earliest loaded release: $654.48

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

Explore release dates and calculate this code in an earlier period →

Each row uses the accepted CMS release effective on that date and the same contractor and locality identifiers. Missing rates stay visible. Historical boundaries may differ; verify the service address for an older claim.

Inspect every release and its CMS source
Effective fromOffice / nonfacilityFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$703.77$451.81RVU26D
2026-07-01$703.77$451.81RVU26C
2026-04-01$703.77$451.81RVU26B
2026-01-01$703.77$451.81RVU26A
2025-10-01$654.48$468.72RVU25D
2025-07-01$654.48$468.72RVU25C
2025-04-01$654.48$468.72RVU25B
2025-01-01$654.48$468.72RVU25A

27685 billing questions

When should 27685 be selected instead of 27686?

Use 27685 for the first tendon whose length is changed. Report 27686 for each additional tendon treated in the same operative session.

Does this code describe tendon repair?

No. It describes surgically changing a tendon’s length. A repair code is considered when the operative work restores a torn or disrupted tendon rather than lengthening or shortening it.

What documentation supports reporting 27685?

The operative report should identify the tendon and side, the clinical reason for changing its length, and the lengthening or shortening work performed.

How is bilateral 27685 reported?

For bilateral procedures, report modifier 50. CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.

What postoperative care is included?

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

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery payment may be allowed. 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 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.

RVUs for 27685PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,005 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for AustinGPCI2026.csv, line 96 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet