Billing code 27381: Patellar tendon repairMedicare rate & RVUs in Delaware
Reports secondary repair or reconstruction of a disrupted patellar tendon, including chronic rupture or a defect requiring graft, rather than primary repair.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 27381 in Delaware.
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 9 sections
What 27381 covers
An orthopedic surgeon uses this service to restore continuity of the patellar tendon when the disruption requires secondary repair, such as a chronic rupture or a failed earlier repair. The operation may use the patient’s tissue or a graft to bridge or reinforce the tendon defect. It is typically performed in a hospital or ambulatory surgery facility for an injury that affects the knee’s extensor mechanism.
Select this code for secondary repair, whether or not a graft is used; use 27380 when the tendon is repaired primarily. The operative report should identify the tendon, the nature of the disruption, why secondary repair was performed, and any graft used. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 identifies bilateral surgery, paid at 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; 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.
27381 in Delaware
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | Unavailable | $765.38 |
How the 27381 rate is calculated
Each of 27381’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 · 27381
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 10.49Practice expense 10.53Malpractice 2.19
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 27381
27381 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 27381
Patellar tendon repair
| 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) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| 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 · 27381
Patellar tendon repair
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
27381 without 50 · national facility
$775.23
Patellar tendon repair
27381-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,162.85
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).
27381 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
27381 vs 27380 vs 27385 vs 27386: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 27380Patellar tendon repair
- Choose 27380 for primary repair of the patellar tendon. Choose 27381 when the repair is secondary, with or without graft.
- 27385Thigh muscle repair
- This code concerns repair of a thigh muscle. Code 27381 is for secondary repair of the patellar tendon.
- 27386Thigh muscle repair
- This code concerns thigh muscle repair with graft; 27381 concerns secondary patellar tendon repair, with or without graft.
27381 billing questions
How does 27381 differ from 27380?
Use 27381 for secondary patellar tendon repair, with or without graft. Code 27380 describes primary repair.
Does 27381 require a graft?
No. Secondary repair may be performed with or without a graft; the operative report should describe the repair and any graft material used.
Can modifier 50 be reported for bilateral repair?
Yes. CMS identifies this as a bilateral procedure; modifier 50 is paid 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?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeons are paid only with 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 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
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