Billing code 27396: Tendon transferMedicare rate & RVUs in Ohio
Reports surgical redirection of one thigh tendon to change its pull and improve movement or stability when the operative plan transfers a single tendon.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 27396 in Ohio.
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 27396 covers
An orthopedic surgeon redirects one tendon in the thigh by moving its attachment to a different site, changing the direction of its pull to improve movement or stability. This may be part of reconstructive surgery for a functional imbalance or loss of muscle action. The procedure is generally performed in a hospital or ambulatory surgery center; Medicare recorded facility services for this code in 2024 and no office services.
Select this code when the operative report supports transfer or transplantation of one thigh tendon; a transfer involving multiple tendons is distinguished by the multiple-tendon code. Documentation should identify the tendon, the original and new attachment sites, the reason for redirecting its action, and the work performed. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; 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.
27396 in Ohio
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | Unavailable | $565.79 |
How the 27396 rate is calculated
Each of 27396’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 · 27396
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 7.95Practice expense 7.98Malpractice 1.69
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 27396
27396 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 27396
Tendon transfer
| 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 · 27396
Tendon transfer
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
27396 without 50 · national facility
$588.52
Tendon transfer
27396-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$882.78
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).
27396 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
27396 vs 27397 vs 27393 vs 27386: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 27397Tendon transfer
- Choose 27396 for a single transferred thigh tendon and 27397 when multiple thigh tendons are transferred.
- 27393Tendon lengthening
- Code 27393 describes lengthening a thigh tendon, not redirecting its attachment as in a tendon transfer.
- 27386Thigh muscle repair
- Code 27386 concerns repair or grafting of a thigh tendon; use 27396 when the documented procedure transfers one tendon to a new attachment.
27396 billing questions
How does this differ from 27397?
This code is for transfer of one thigh tendon. Code 27397 is for transfer of multiple thigh tendons.
How does a tendon transfer differ from tendon lengthening?
A transfer changes where a tendon acts by redirecting its attachment. Lengthening changes tendon length rather than transferring its attachment.
What should the operative report document?
Document the tendon transferred, its original and new attachment sites, the clinical reason for redirection, and the procedure performed.
How is bilateral surgery 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 paid?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. Co-surgeon payment requires 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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