Billing code 27603: Deep drainageMedicare rate & RVUs in Ohio
Reports surgical drainage of a deep abscess or hematoma in the leg or ankle, rather than drainage of a superficial skin collection or bursa.
Medicare pays $515.11 for 27603 in the office in Ohio (Ohio). Which amount applies depends on the service address.
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 27603 covers
The surgeon makes an incision to reach and drain a deep abscess or hematoma in the leg or ankle. Orthopedic, trauma, and general surgeons may perform the service when a deep collection requires operative drainage, commonly in a hospital or other surgical setting. The operative report should identify the leg or ankle site, establish that the collection is deep, and describe the incision and drainage performed.
Select this code for a deep abscess or hematoma, not a superficial skin abscess, bursal collection, or collection in the thigh or knee region. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including 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 are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. For bilateral services reported with modifier 50, CMS pays 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is statutorily restricted; co-surgeons and team surgery are 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.
27603 in Ohio
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | $515.11 | $356.84 |
How the 27603 rate is calculated
Each of 27603’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 · 27603
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work5.10
5.10 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense10.29
10.29 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.92
0.92 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
16.3100
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$544.77
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 27603
27603 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 27603
Deep drainage
| 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) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| 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 · 27603
Deep drainage
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
27603 without 50 · national office
$544.77
Deep drainage
27603-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$817.16
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).
27603 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 27604Bursa drainage
- Choose 27604 when the collection is in a lower-leg or ankle bursa; choose this code for a deep abscess or hematoma.
- 27301Deep drainage
- Both address deep collections, but 27301 is for the thigh or knee region; this code is for the leg or ankle.
- 10060Abscess drainage
- 10060 is for simple drainage of a cutaneous abscess. This code is for a deep collection in the leg or ankle.
- 10061Abscess drainage
- 10061 describes complicated or multiple cutaneous abscess drainage; it does not identify a deep leg or ankle collection.
27603 billing questions
How is this different from drainage of a superficial abscess?
This code is for a deep collection in the leg or ankle. A superficial cutaneous abscess is generally reported with the applicable skin abscess drainage code.
When would 27604 be a better choice?
Use 27604 when the operative target is a bursa in the lower leg or ankle. This code describes drainage of a deep abscess or hematoma.
Does this code include postoperative visits?
CMS includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care in the global period.
How is bilateral drainage paid?
When reported bilaterally with modifier 50, CMS pays 150% for the bilateral procedure.
Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?
CMS restricts assistant-at-surgery payment for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are 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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