Billing code 27556: Knee dislocationMedicare rate & RVUs in Ohio
Reports open treatment of a tibiofemoral knee dislocation, including internal fixation when performed, without the ligament repair described by higher-level codes.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 27556 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 27556 covers
This code covers open treatment of a tibiofemoral knee dislocation, typically performed by an orthopedic surgeon in an operating room when the joint requires direct surgical reduction or stabilization. Internal fixation is included when needed. It is for the knee joint dislocation, not a dislocated patella, which has a separate code family.
Choose this code when the dislocation is treated openly and the service does not include the ligament repair specified by 27557 or the associated fracture treatment specified by 27558. The operative report should identify the dislocation, open approach, and any fixation performed. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For same-session procedures, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures at 50%. Modifier 50 bilateral payment is 150%. An assistant 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.
27556 in Ohio
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | Unavailable | $774.55 |
How the 27556 rate is calculated
Each of 27556’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 · 27556
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 12.68Practice expense 8.53Malpractice 2.70
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 27556
27556 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 27556
Knee dislocation
| 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 · 27556
Knee dislocation
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
27556 without 50 · national facility
$798.62
Knee dislocation
27556-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,197.93
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).
27556 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
27556 vs 27557 vs 27558 vs 27550 vs 27552: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 27557Knee dislocation
- Use 27557 when open knee-dislocation treatment includes repair of one or more ligaments, with or without a tendon graft. Code 27556 covers open treatment without that specified ligament repair.
- 27558Knee dislocation repair
- 27558 includes ligament repair and open treatment of associated fracture(s) when performed. 27556 does not describe that combination of services.
- 27550Knee dislocation
- 27550 is for closed treatment of a knee dislocation without anesthesia; 27556 is for open treatment.
- 27552Knee reduction
- 27552 is for closed treatment of a knee dislocation requiring anesthesia. Choose 27556 when the dislocation is treated through an open approach.
27556 billing questions
When should 27556 be chosen over 27557?
Use 27556 for open knee-dislocation treatment without the ligament repair described by 27557. When ligament repair is part of the treatment, evaluate the more specific code.
Is internal fixation separately reported?
Internal fixation, when performed as part of the open treatment, is included in 27556.
How does 27556 differ from 27550 and 27552?
27556 describes open treatment. Codes 27550 and 27552 describe closed treatment, with 27552 used when anesthesia is required.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral treatment?
CMS classifies this as a bilateral procedure; payment with modifier 50 is at 150%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be paid?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and 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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