$550.73
27330 describes an open arthrotomy biopsy. Use the arthroscopy code when the surgeon obtains the synovial sample through an arthroscope.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
27330 Knee biopsy Medicare reimbursement rates in Nebraska
Open knee-joint biopsy code for obtaining synovial lining tissue when persistent synovitis or another intra-articular abnormality requires tissue diagnosis. Compare 27330 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities in Nebraska.
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.
What does Medicare pay for 27330 in Nebraska?
Nebraska has 1 payment locality in this comparison. Use the service location to choose the applicable amount. These are the supported base rates for the payment area shown below, using the same CMS release.
Office / nonfacility
No supported rate
Facility setting
$374.38
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: Nebraska
One mapped payment locality.
These are locality ranges, not averages or address-specific quotes. A facility-setting amount covers the physician service; it does not include a hospital’s separate bill. Choose a locality below to inspect its calculation, compare other payment areas, or price a percentage of Medicare.
Orthopedic surgery
About 27330: Open knee joint lining biopsy
Open knee-joint biopsy code for obtaining synovial lining tissue when persistent synovitis or another intra-articular abnormality requires tissue diagnosis.
27330 represents open entry into the knee joint to obtain a sample of the synovial lining for diagnostic evaluation. An orthopedic surgeon may perform it when persistent, unexplained synovitis or another abnormal joint-lining change requires tissue examination, including evaluation for inflammatory or infectious disease. The specimen may be sent for histology or other laboratory analysis. This is an open biopsy, not an arthroscopic sampling procedure or removal of the joint lining.
Report the code when the operative service includes an arthrotomy to take a biopsy; the operative note should identify the knee, the abnormal tissue sampled, and the biopsy performed. The 90-day global period includes 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 receive the standard multiple-procedure reduction. For bilateral procedures, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted, co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is not permitted.
CMS billing rules for 27330
- 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 RVU4.98 · 40%
- Practice expense (office) RVU6.31 · 51%
- Malpractice RVU1.07 · 9%
77
Medicare services in 2024 · #5082 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.
27330 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Nebraska, from the same CMS release.
No office rate
27330 is reported for open tissue sampling. 27331 describes an open knee procedure directed to exploration, drainage, or foreign-body removal.
No office rate
27330 removes a sample for diagnosis; 27334 is for open synovectomy, in which synovial tissue is removed therapeutically.
Compare 27330 by payment locality
Find the payment area for your service address, then open its rate page for calculation inputs, release history and the percentage-of-Medicare tool. A city may cross payment-area boundaries; the ZIP lookup above helps resolve the location.
1 of 1 payment localities
Nebraska →
Office / nonfacility
Unavailable
Facility
$374.38
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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 27330 in Nebraska.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
2,841
- Code
- 27330
- Physician work
- 4.98
- Practice expense
- 6.31
- Malpractice
- 1.07
GPCI2026.csv
72
- Locality
- Nebraska
- Physician work
- 1.000
- Practice expense
- 0.923
- Malpractice
- 0.378
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 4.98 | × 1.000 | 4.9800 |
| Practice expense | 6.31 | × 0.923 | 5.8241 |
| Malpractice | 1.07 | × 0.378 | 0.4045 |
| Total RVUs | 11.2086 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Facility rate, Nebraska$374.38
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Facility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 4.98 | 1 |
| Practice expense | 6.31 | 0.923 |
| Malpractice | 1.07 | 0.378 |
(4.98 × 1 + 6.31 × 0.923 + 1.07 × 0.378) × $33.4009 = $374.38
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.
27330 billing questions
When should 27330 be chosen instead of an arthroscopic knee biopsy?
Use 27330 for an open arthrotomy performed to sample the knee lining. When the biopsy is obtained arthroscopically, consider the applicable arthroscopy code, such as 29870.
Does 27330 include the pathology examination?
The code represents obtaining the tissue through the open procedure. Histologic examination is a separate laboratory service when performed and reportable by the pathology provider.
What documentation supports reporting 27330?
Document the knee side, the reason tissue diagnosis was needed, the synovial or other intra-articular tissue sampled, and the open biopsy performed.
Can 27330 be reported bilaterally?
For a bilateral procedure, CMS pays 150% when modifier 50 is reported. The operative documentation should support biopsy of both knees.
How does the global period affect postoperative visits?
27330 has a 90-day global period. The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included.
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.
2,83827327,,Exc thigh/knee les sc < 3 cm,A,,3.86,11.42,,4.52,,0.87,16.15,9.25,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
2,83927328,,Exc thigh/knee tum deep <5cm,A,,8.63,7.08,NA,7.08,,1.96,17.67,17.67,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
2,84027329,,Resect thigh/knee tum < 5 cm,A,,15.33,10.11,NA,10.11,,3.48,28.92,28.92,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
2,84127330,,Biopsy knee joint lining,A,,4.98,6.31,NA,6.31,,1.07,12.36,12.36,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,1,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
2,84227331,,Explore/treat knee joint,A,,5.87,6.66,NA,6.66,,1.23,13.76,13.76,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
2,84327332,,Removal of knee cartilage,A,,8.25,8.41,NA,8.41,,1.75,18.41,18.41,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
2,84427333,,Removal of knee cartilage,A,,7.36,7.98,NA,7.98,,1.56,16.90,16.90,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
6905302,MO,01,METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS,1.000,0.952,1.002
7005302,MO,99,REST OF MISSOURI,1.000,0.862,0.974
7103202,MT,01,MONTANA**,1.000,1.000,0.998
7205402,NE,00,NEBRASKA,1.000,0.923,0.378
7301312,NV,00,NEVADA**,1.000,1.001,0.833
7414312,NH,40,NEW HAMPSHIRE,1.000,1.041,0.875
7512402,NJ,01,NORTHERN NJ,1.063,1.160,1.068