Billing code 27328: Soft-tissue tumor excisionMedicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Reports removal of a deep soft-tissue tumor in the thigh or knee region when the tumor measures less than 5 cm.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 27328 in Texas.
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 27328 covers
This service involves surgically removing a tumor beneath the superficial soft tissues of the thigh or knee, such as a subfascial or intramuscular mass, measuring less than 5 cm. It is commonly performed by an orthopedic surgeon or surgical oncologist in an operating room, including a hospital outpatient department or ambulatory surgery center. A diagnostic biopsy alone is not the same service as removing the tumor.
Choose the code based on the operative report’s documented site, depth, size, and procedure. The record should establish that the tumor is deep, measures under 5 cm, and was removed from the thigh or knee area. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is barred by statutory restriction; 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 27328 pays more and less in Texas
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | Unavailable | $597.02 |
| Beaumont | Unavailable | $564.26 |
| Brazoria | Unavailable | $575.97 |
| Dallas | Unavailable | $582.55 |
| Fort Worth | Unavailable | $581.03 |
| Galveston | Unavailable | $579.58 |
| Houston | Unavailable | $615.46 |
| Rest Of Texas | Unavailable | $571.78 |
How the 27328 rate is calculated
Each of 27328’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 · 27328
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work8.63
8.63 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense7.08
7.08 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.96
1.96 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
17.6700
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$590.19
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 27328
27328 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 27328
Soft-tissue tumor excision
| 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 · 27328
Soft-tissue tumor excision
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
27328 without 50 · national facility
$590.19
Soft-tissue tumor excision
27328-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$885.29
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).
27328 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 27327Soft-tissue excision
- Use 27327 for a superficial thigh or knee lesion under 3 cm; 27328 is for a deep tumor under 5 cm.
- 27329Tumor resection
- Both cover deep thigh or knee tumors under 5 cm. The operative report’s documented excision or resection determines which code describes the service.
- 27337Soft-tissue excision
- Use 27337 for a superficial lesion measuring 3 cm or larger; 27328 describes a deep tumor under 5 cm.
- 27339Soft-tissue excision
- Use 27339 for a deep thigh or knee tumor measuring 5 cm or larger; 27328 is the under-5-cm size level.
27328 billing questions
How does this differ from 27327?
27328 is for a deep thigh or knee tumor under 5 cm. Code 27327 describes removal of a superficial lesion under 3 cm.
When should 27329 be considered instead?
Both codes concern deep thigh or knee tumors under 5 cm, but distinguish the documented operative procedure as excision versus resection. Follow the operative report rather than inferring the code from the diagnosis alone.
What documentation supports 27328?
Document the thigh or knee location, the tumor’s deep or subfascial position, its measured size under 5 cm, and the removal performed. The operative report should support the depth and extent of the work.
Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral procedures?
CMS lists this as a bilateral procedure; reporting modifier 50 is paid at 150%. The record should support treatment of both sides.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures in the same session are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction, with payment at 50%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is barred by statutory restriction. CMS does not permit co-surgeons or team surgery for this code.
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
Fee sheets
Put 27328 and the rest of your codes on one sheet
Build a fee sheet from your own code list at your locality, put your payer contracts beside Medicare, and see what changed each quarter.
Build my fee sheetOr price your code list free →