Billing code 27601: Leg fasciotomyMedicare rate & RVUs in Oregon
Surgical release of the lower leg’s posterior compartment is reported to relieve pathologic pressure, commonly in acute compartment syndrome after trauma.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 27601 in Oregon.
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 27601 covers
This operation releases the fascia surrounding the posterior compartment or compartments of the lower leg to relieve dangerous tissue pressure. Orthopedic and trauma surgeons commonly perform it urgently for compartment syndrome after injuries such as fractures or crush trauma. The operative note should identify the leg, the compartments released, and the findings that prompted decompression.
Report this code when the documented release is limited to the posterior compartment or compartments; release that also includes anterior or lateral compartments follows a different code in the family. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are paid at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service, and 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.
Where 27601 pays more and less in Oregon
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Portland | Unavailable | $432.15 |
| Rest Of Oregon | Unavailable | $406.33 |
How the 27601 rate is calculated
Each of 27601’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 · 27601
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 5.90Practice expense 5.50Malpractice 1.12
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 27601
27601 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 27601
Leg fasciotomy
| 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 · 27601
Leg fasciotomy
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
27601 without 50 · national facility
$418.18
Leg fasciotomy
27601-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$627.27
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).
27601 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
27601 vs 27600 vs 27602 vs 27893 vs 27603: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 27600Leg decompression
- Choose 27600 for decompression limited to anterior and/or lateral compartments. This code is for posterior compartment release.
- 27602Leg decompression
- Choose 27602 when the operative release includes posterior compartments plus anterior and/or lateral compartments. Use this code when release is confined to posterior compartments.
- 27893Leg fasciotomy
- Both involve posterior compartment release, but 27893 includes debridement of nonviable muscle and/or nerve. Select based on the work documented in the operative report.
- 27603Deep drainage
- 27603 is for draining a lower-leg lesion. This code describes compartment release to relieve pressure, not drainage of a localized lesion.
27601 billing questions
How is this code distinguished from 27600?
This code is for release of posterior compartment or compartments. Code 27600 is for release of anterior and/or lateral compartments only.
When is 27602 more appropriate?
Use 27602 when the documented decompression includes posterior compartments as well as anterior and/or lateral compartments. This code describes posterior compartment release without those additional compartments.
What should the operative report document?
The report should identify the treated leg and the compartments released, and explain the clinical findings or pressure problem prompting the operation.
How is bilateral surgery reported?
For bilateral procedures, report modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150% under the stated fee schedule rule.
Is an assistant surgeon payable?
CMS applies a statutory restriction, so an assistant at surgery is not paid for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are also not permitted.
Are related postoperative visits included?
Yes. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
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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