Billing code 27620: Ankle arthrotomyMedicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Open ankle-joint exploration, with or without biopsy, is reported when the surgeon surgically inspects the joint to evaluate intra-articular disease.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 27620 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 27620 covers
This procedure opens the ankle joint so the surgeon can inspect its structures and, when indicated, obtain a tissue sample. Orthopedic surgeons typically perform it in an operating room to investigate an intra-articular problem, such as suspected infection or inflammatory disease, when direct visualization or joint-tissue biopsy is needed. The biopsy is part of the described service; laboratory or pathology interpretation is a separate service when performed by another provider.
Select the code when the operative report supports an ankle arthrotomy for joint exploration, with or without biopsy. Document the reason for exploration, the joint entered, findings, and any specimen obtained. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. In a same-session multiple-procedure situation, 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 services 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.
Where 27620 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 | $443.67 |
| Beaumont | Unavailable | $415.04 |
| Brazoria | Unavailable | $427.78 |
| Dallas | Unavailable | $431.66 |
| Fort Worth | Unavailable | $430.10 |
| Galveston | Unavailable | $429.83 |
| Houston | Unavailable | $448.68 |
| Rest Of Texas | Unavailable | $421.97 |
How the 27620 rate is calculated
Each of 27620’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 · 27620
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 6.00Practice expense 6.01Malpractice 1.03
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 27620
27620 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 27620
Ankle arthrotomy
| 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 · 27620
Ankle arthrotomy
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
27620 without 50 · national facility
$435.55
Ankle arthrotomy
27620-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$653.33
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).
27620 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
27620 vs 27610 vs 27625 vs 27626: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 27610Ankle arthrotomy
- Choose 27620 for open ankle-joint exploration, with or without biopsy. Choose 27610 when the documented arthrotomy includes drainage or removal of a loose or foreign body.
- 27625Ankle synovectomy
- 27625 is for ankle synovectomy when removal of synovial lining is the main procedure; 27620 is for joint exploration, with biopsy optional.
- 27626Ankle synovectomy
- 27626 describes extensive ankle synovectomy. It is distinguished from 27620 by the operative focus on extensive synovial tissue removal rather than exploration.
27620 billing questions
How is this different from 27610?
27620 describes ankle arthrotomy for joint exploration, with or without biopsy. Use 27610 when the documented service is the arthrotomy involving exploration, drainage, or removal of a loose or foreign body.
Is the joint biopsy separately reported?
The biopsy is included in 27620 when performed as part of the joint exploration. The pathology interpretation is a separate service when performed and reported by the appropriate provider.
What documentation supports 27620?
Document the clinical reason for open exploration, the ankle joint entered, operative findings, and whether tissue was collected. The record should establish joint exploration rather than a procedure focused on synovectomy or removal of a loose body.
Can 27620 be reported for both ankles?
For a bilateral procedure, CMS payment uses modifier 50 and is 150% of the single-procedure amount. The operative documentation should support work on both ankle joints.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery services may be paid. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted under the CMS facts 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
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