Billing code 27698: Ankle ligament repairMedicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
Report secondary reconstruction of a disrupted collateral ankle ligament, commonly for chronic instability when primary repair is no longer appropriate.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 27698 in Illinois.
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 27698 covers
This code describes secondary repair or reconstruction of a disrupted collateral ligament at the ankle, rather than a straightforward primary repair of a recent injury. It commonly applies when chronic instability follows an older ligament injury or when the ligament cannot be repaired primarily. An orthopedic surgeon, often a foot and ankle specialist, performs the reconstruction in an operating room; a Watson-Jones procedure is a recognized example.
Choose the code when the operative report supports secondary ligament reconstruction, not simply the number of ligaments repaired during a primary repair. Documentation should identify the injured ankle, the chronic or previously disrupted ligament, and the reconstructive work performed. The procedure has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For bilateral reporting with modifier 50, CMS pays 150%; when multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued is paid in full and others at 50%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; 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.
Where 27698 pays more and less in Illinois
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | Unavailable | $665.12 |
| East St. Louis | Unavailable | $628.97 |
| Rest Of Illinois | Unavailable | $604.74 |
| Suburban Chicago | Unavailable | $644.06 |
How the 27698 rate is calculated
Each of 27698’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 · 27698
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 9.37Practice expense 7.00Malpractice 1.50
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 27698
27698 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 27698
Ankle ligament 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 · 27698
Ankle ligament 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
27698 without 50 · national facility
$596.87
Ankle ligament repair
27698-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$895.31
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).
27698 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
27698 vs 27695 vs 27696 vs 27650: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 27695Ankle ligament repair
- Use 27695 for primary repair of one disrupted collateral ankle ligament. Use 27698 when the repair is secondary, such as reconstruction for chronic instability.
- 27696Ankle ligament repair
- 27696 describes primary repair of both collateral ankle ligaments. It is not the secondary reconstruction code.
- 27650Achilles repair
- 27650 addresses Achilles tendon repair. Code 27698 is for secondary reconstruction of a collateral ligament at the ankle.
27698 billing questions
How does 27698 differ from 27695 or 27696?
27698 is for secondary reconstruction of a disrupted collateral ankle ligament. Codes 27695 and 27696 describe primary repair, with 27696 applying when both collateral ligaments are repaired.
Can 27698 be reported for a Watson-Jones procedure?
Yes. A Watson-Jones procedure is a recognized example of secondary ankle collateral ligament repair or reconstruction.
What documentation supports 27698?
The operative report should establish that the ligament repair is secondary, identify the ankle and disrupted collateral ligament, and describe the reconstruction performed.
How is bilateral 27698 reported under the CMS facts?
Report bilateral treatment with modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
Are postoperative visits included in 27698?
Yes. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How does CMS handle other procedures performed in the same session?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are paid at 50%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; co-surgeons require 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 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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