$703.77
Choose 27685 for lengthening or shortening one tendon. Choose 27686 for multiple tendons treated through the same incision.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
27686 in Austin
Office / nonfacility
Not available in this setting
Base rate per service
Facility setting
$511.04
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 27686: Multiple lower-leg tendon lengthening or shortening
Reports operative lengthening or shortening of multiple leg or ankle tendons through one incision to address contracture, imbalance, or restricted motion.
This code describes surgically changing the length of more than one tendon in the leg or ankle through the same incision. An orthopedic foot-and-ankle surgeon or podiatric surgeon may perform the procedure to address tendon contracture or imbalance that limits motion or alters foot and ankle position. The operative report should identify the tendons treated, the lengthening or shortening performed, and the shared incision approach.
Report this code for the multiple-tendon procedure through one incision, rather than reporting the single-tendon service for each tendon treated through that incision. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. For a bilateral procedure reported with modifier 50, CMS pays at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is not permitted.
CMS billing rules for 27686
- 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
- Statutory restriction: assistant at surgery is not paid.
- Co-surgeons
- Co-surgeons paid only with supporting documentation.
- Team surgery
- Team surgery not permitted.
Where the value comes from
- Work RVU7.56 · 50%
- Practice expense (office) RVU6.28 · 42%
- Malpractice RVU1.22 · 8%
329
Medicare services in 2024 · #3923 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.
27686 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Austin, from the same CMS release.
No office rate
27687 describes a calf tendon recession. This code is for lengthening or shortening multiple leg or ankle tendons through one incision.
No office rate
27680 addresses tendon release or tenolysis. This code applies when the surgeon surgically changes the length of multiple tendons.
No office rate
27690 describes transfer of a tendon to a different position. This code describes lengthening or shortening multiple tendons without that transfer.
The same code, a different location
How does Austin compare?
27686 across payment areas
Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0
Austin · This locality
Unavailable
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Other payment areas listed in Texas appear first, followed by selected cross-country examples. The chart compares amounts, not distance.
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 · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$488.37
No comparable office rate is available.
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty)
California · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$538.06
No comparable office rate is available.
Dc + Md/Va Suburbs
District of Columbia · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$558.59
No comparable office rate is available.
Miami
Florida · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$573.92
No comparable office rate is available.
Chicago
Illinois · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$558.60
No comparable office rate is available.
Manhattan
New York · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$577.04
No comparable office rate is available.
Alaska*
Alaska · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$624.61
No comparable office rate is available.
Alabama
Alabama · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$459.11
No comparable office rate is available.
Arkansas
Arkansas · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$453.68
No comparable office rate is available.
Arizona
Arizona · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$490.65
No comparable office rate is available.
Bakersfield
California · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$512.02
No comparable office rate is available.
Chico
California · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$508.54
No comparable office rate is available.
El Centro
California · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$508.74
No comparable office rate is available.
Fresno
California · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$508.54
No comparable office rate is available.
Hanford-Corcoran
California · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$508.54
No comparable office rate is available.
Madera
California · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$508.54
No comparable office rate is available.
Merced
California · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$508.54
No comparable office rate is available.
Modesto
California · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$508.54
No comparable office rate is available.
Napa
California · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$565.58
No comparable office rate is available.
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura
California · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$532.90
No comparable office rate is available.
Redding
California · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$508.54
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of California
California · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$508.54
No comparable office rate is available.
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
California · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$521.71
No comparable office rate is available.
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
California · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$527.39
No comparable office rate is available.
Salinas
California · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$525.29
No comparable office rate is available.
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
California · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$533.04
No comparable office rate is available.
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)
California · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$590.96
No comparable office rate is available.
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty)
California · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$589.58
No comparable office rate is available.
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty)
California · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$604.60
No comparable office rate is available.
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty)
California · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$598.93
No comparable office rate is available.
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
California · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$517.56
No comparable office rate is available.
Santa Cruz-Watsonville
California · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$534.51
No comparable office rate is available.
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
California · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$526.00
No comparable office rate is available.
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
California · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$539.51
No comparable office rate is available.
Stockton
California · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$508.54
No comparable office rate is available.
Vallejo
California · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$563.58
No comparable office rate is available.
Visalia
California · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$508.54
No comparable office rate is available.
Yuba City
California · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$508.54
No comparable office rate is available.
Colorado
Colorado · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$510.55
No comparable office rate is available.
Connecticut
Connecticut · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$532.78
No comparable office rate is available.
Delaware
Delaware · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$497.65
No comparable office rate is available.
Fort Lauderdale
Florida · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$538.67
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Florida
Florida · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$514.29
No comparable office rate is available.
Atlanta
Georgia · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$515.32
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Georgia
Georgia · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$488.19
No comparable office rate is available.
Hawaii, Guam
Hawaii · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$514.60
No comparable office rate is available.
Iowa
Iowa · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$460.62
No comparable office rate is available.
Idaho
Idaho · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$464.76
No comparable office rate is available.
East St. Louis
Illinois · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$527.56
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Illinois
Illinois · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$507.71
No comparable office rate is available.
Suburban Chicago
Illinois · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$541.91
No comparable office rate is available.
Indiana
Indiana · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$466.76
No comparable office rate is available.
Kansas
Kansas · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$462.67
No comparable office rate is available.
Kentucky
Kentucky · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$476.27
No comparable office rate is available.
New Orleans
Louisiana · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$496.18
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Louisiana
Louisiana · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$477.18
No comparable office rate is available.
Metropolitan Boston
Massachusetts · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$549.58
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Massachusetts
Massachusetts · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$509.90
No comparable office rate is available.
Baltimore/Surr. Cntys
Maryland · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$532.03
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Maryland
Maryland · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$504.72
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Maine
Maine · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$470.83
No comparable office rate is available.
Southern Maine
Maine · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$486.09
No comparable office rate is available.
Detroit
Michigan · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$523.63
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Michigan
Michigan · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$490.03
No comparable office rate is available.
Minnesota
Minnesota · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$480.41
No comparable office rate is available.
Metropolitan Kansas City
Missouri · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$489.29
No comparable office rate is available.
Metropolitan St. Louis
Missouri · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$493.03
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Missouri
Missouri · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$473.01
No comparable office rate is available.
Mississippi
Mississippi · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$463.23
No comparable office rate is available.
Montana**
Montana · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$502.94
No comparable office rate is available.
North Carolina
North Carolina · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$474.25
No comparable office rate is available.
North Dakota**
North Dakota · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$478.81
No comparable office rate is available.
Nebraska
Nebraska · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$461.52
No comparable office rate is available.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$506.52
No comparable office rate is available.
Northern Nj
New Jersey · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$555.26
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of New Jersey
New Jersey · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$536.37
No comparable office rate is available.
New Mexico
New Mexico · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$493.80
No comparable office rate is available.
Nevada**
Nevada · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$496.42
No comparable office rate is available.
Nyc Suburbs/Long Island
New York · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$593.74
No comparable office rate is available.
Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs
New York · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$542.86
No comparable office rate is available.
Queens
New York · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$575.37
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of New York
New York · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$480.43
No comparable office rate is available.
Ohio
Ohio · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$485.09
No comparable office rate is available.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$471.49
No comparable office rate is available.
Portland
Oregon · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$519.91
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Oregon
Oregon · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$490.08
No comparable office rate is available.
Metropolitan Philadelphia
Pennsylvania · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$524.03
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$483.58
No comparable office rate is available.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$504.71
No comparable office rate is available.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$510.34
No comparable office rate is available.
South Carolina
South Carolina · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$480.96
No comparable office rate is available.
South Dakota**
South Dakota · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$475.96
No comparable office rate is available.
Tennessee
Tennessee · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$465.06
No comparable office rate is available.
Utah
Utah · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$486.28
No comparable office rate is available.
Virginia
Virginia · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$487.47
No comparable office rate is available.
Virgin Islands
United States Virgin Islands · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$504.71
No comparable office rate is available.
Vermont
Vermont · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$480.79
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Washington
Washington · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$507.68
No comparable office rate is available.
Seattle (King Cnty)
Washington · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$555.80
No comparable office rate is available.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$466.01
No comparable office rate is available.
West Virginia
West Virginia · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$493.10
No comparable office rate is available.
Wyoming**
Wyoming · 27686
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$492.42
No comparable office rate is available.
See how rates vary across the country
27686 · 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 |
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.
- 27686 in Austin
Multiple payment areas
- 27686 in Barton Creek
- 27686 in Bee Cave
- 27686 in Briarcliff
- 27686 in Cedar Park
Multiple payment areas
- 27686 in Creedmoor
Multiple payment areas
- 27686 in Elgin
Multiple payment areas
- 27686 in Garfield
Use this rate
What is a percentage of Medicare worth?
Turn a percentage into dollars for 27686 in Austin. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.
Reference amount per service
$562.14
$511.04 × 110% = $562.14
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.
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 27686 in Austin.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
3,006
- Code
- 27686
- Physician work
- 7.56
- Practice expense
- 6.28
- Malpractice
- 1.22
GPCI2026.csv
96
- Locality
- Austin
- Physician work
- 1.002
- Practice expense
- 1.058
- Malpractice
- 0.886
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 7.56 | × 1.002 | 7.5751 |
| Practice expense | 6.28 | × 1.058 | 6.6442 |
| Malpractice | 1.22 | × 0.886 | 1.0809 |
| Total RVUs | 15.3003 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Facility rate, Austin$511.04
Open 27686 in the RVU calculator →
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Facility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 7.56 | 1.002 |
| Practice expense | 6.28 | 1.058 |
| Malpractice | 1.22 | 0.886 |
(7.56 × 1.002 + 6.28 × 1.058 + 1.22 × 0.886) × $33.4009 = $511.04
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
27686 · Office / nonfacility
Rate unavailable
Effective 2026-10-01
A rate is unavailable in one of these releases, so a change cannot be calculated.
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
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 from | Office / nonfacility | Facility | CMS release |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $511.04 | RVU26D |
| 2026-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $511.04 | RVU26C |
| 2026-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $511.04 | RVU26B |
| 2026-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $511.04 | RVU26A |
| 2025-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $532.69 | RVU25D |
| 2025-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $532.69 | RVU25C |
| 2025-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $532.69 | RVU25B |
| 2025-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $532.69 | RVU25A |
27686 billing questions
When should this be selected instead of 27685?
Use 27686 when multiple tendons are lengthened or shortened through the same incision. Code 27685 describes the single-tendon service.
Is the code reported once for each tendon?
No. For multiple tendons treated through the same incision, report this multiple-tendon code rather than multiplying it by the number of tendons.
What documentation supports reporting this code?
Document each tendon treated, whether it was lengthened or shortened, and that the tendons were addressed through the same incision.
How does the 90-day global period affect postoperative billing?
The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global period.
How are bilateral and same-session procedures handled?
A bilateral procedure reported with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others are reduced.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted. 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.
3,00327680,,Release of lower leg tendon,A,,5.73,5.54,NA,5.54,,0.96,12.23,12.23,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,0,1,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,00427681,,Release of lower leg tendons,A,,6.87,6.55,NA,6.55,,1.24,14.66,14.66,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,1,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,00527685,,Revision of lower leg tendon,A,,6.52,12.97,,5.84,,0.92,20.41,13.28,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,00627686,,Revise lower leg tendons,A,,7.56,6.28,NA,6.28,,1.22,15.06,15.06,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,1,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,00727687,,Revision of calf tendon,A,,6.25,5.77,NA,5.77,,0.98,13.00,13.00,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,00827690,,Revise lower leg tendon,A,,8.94,7.91,NA,7.91,,1.36,18.21,18.21,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,00927691,,Revise lower leg tendon,A,,10.23,9.04,NA,9.04,,1.76,21.03,21.03,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
9311202,SC,01,SOUTH CAROLINA,1.000,0.924,0.850
9403402,SD,02,SOUTH DAKOTA**,1.000,1.000,0.336
9510312,TN,35,TENNESSEE,1.000,0.909,0.537
9604412,TX,31,AUSTIN,1.002,1.058,0.886
9704412,TX,20,BEAUMONT,1.000,0.910,0.929
9804412,TX,09,BRAZORIA,1.008,0.991,0.780
9904412,TX,11,DALLAS,1.009,0.996,0.858