Billing code 21627: Sternal debridementMedicare rate & RVUs in Utah
Surgical removal of devitalized tissue from the sternum, commonly during operative treatment of a deep sternal wound infection after sternotomy.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 21627 in Utah.
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 21627 covers
The surgeon removes infected or nonviable tissue from the sternum and operative wound, often to control a deep infection or sternal osteomyelitis after median sternotomy. Cardiothoracic and thoracic surgeons typically perform the procedure in a hospital operating room. The work is focused on cleaning the affected sternal area; it is distinct from removing a portion of sternum as an ostectomy or performing a radical resection.
Report the service when the operative note supports debridement of the sternum, including the site and extent of affected tissue addressed and the reason for treatment. This major surgery has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. An assistant at surgery may be paid; 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.
21627 in Utah
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | Unavailable | $534.01 |
How the 21627 rate is calculated
Each of 21627’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 · 21627
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work7.12
7.12 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense7.81
7.81 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.70
1.70 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
16.6300
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$555.46
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 21627
21627 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 21627
Sternal debridement
| 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) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 2 | Paid. |
| 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 · 21627
Sternal debridement
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 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
21627 without 51 · national facility
$555.46
Sternal debridement
21627-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$277.73
When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).
21627 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 21620Sternal ostectomy
- Choose 21627 for debridement of affected sternal tissue; choose 21620 when the operation removes part of the sternum as an ostectomy.
- 21630Sternum resection
- 21630 describes radical sternal resection, such as for a substantially different resection objective; it is not the code for routine infected-wound debridement.
- 21750Sternal repair
- 21750 describes closure of a separated median sternotomy and includes debridement when performed. 21627 describes sternal debridement itself.
- 11044Wound debridement
- 11044 is a general wound debridement code for work at bone level. 21627 is specific to debridement involving the sternum.
21627 billing questions
How does this differ from partial sternal ostectomy, 21620?
21627 describes debridement of affected sternal tissue. Use 21620 when the operative objective is partial removal of sternal bone rather than debridement of a wound.
Can 21627 be reported with 21750?
21750 describes closure of a median sternotomy separation with or without debridement. When the debridement is part of that closure, do not report 21627 separately for the same work.
What should the operative note establish?
Document the sternal site, the infected or nonviable tissue treated, the extent of the debridement, and the clinical reason for the operation.
How is 21627 affected by the 90-day global period?
The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global period.
Can an assistant or another surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted for this code.
Does modifier 50 apply to bilateral sternal debridement?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code, so modifier 50 is not appropriate.
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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