$662.20
Choose 27687 for a gastrocnemius recession. Code 27685 describes lengthening or shortening a single leg or ankle tendon more generally.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
27687 Calf tendon revision Medicare reimbursement rates in Vermont
Gastrocnemius recession surgically lengthens the calf muscle-tendon unit to improve ankle dorsiflexion when gastrocnemius tightness contributes to equinus. Compare 27687 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities in Vermont.
Amounts below use the non-QP conversion factor for participating physicians. These are base physician payments before claim-level adjustments, not patient costs or total hospital charges.
What does Medicare pay for 27687 in Vermont?
Vermont has 1 payment locality in this comparison. Use the service location to choose the applicable amount. These are the supported base rates for the payment area shown below, using the same CMS release.
Office / nonfacility
No supported rate
Facility setting
$416.11
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: Vermont
One mapped payment locality.
These are locality ranges, not averages or address-specific quotes. A facility-setting amount covers the physician service; it does not include a hospital’s separate bill. Choose a locality below to inspect its calculation, compare other payment areas, or price a percentage of Medicare.
Foot and ankle surgery
About 27687: Gastrocnemius recession for equinus
Gastrocnemius recession surgically lengthens the calf muscle-tendon unit to improve ankle dorsiflexion when gastrocnemius tightness contributes to equinus.
This procedure lengthens or recesses the gastrocnemius aponeurosis to reduce calf tightness and improve ankle dorsiflexion. Foot and ankle surgeons commonly perform it for equinus contracture when the gastrocnemius limits motion, sometimes as part of treatment for related foot or ankle problems. A Strayer-type recession is a familiar example; this is distinct from lengthening the Achilles tendon.
Report the procedure when the operative work is a gastrocnemius recession, supported by the indication, examination findings, side, and details of the recession performed. The 90-day global period includes 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 other procedures at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery services may be paid; co-surgeons are paid only with supporting documentation, and team surgery is not permitted.
CMS billing rules for 27687
- Global period
- Major surgery with a 90-day global period: the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included.
- Multiple procedures
- Standard multiple procedure reduction: the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50% when performed in the same session.
- Bilateral procedures
- Bilateral procedure with modifier 50 is paid at 150%.
- Assistant at surgery
- Assistant at surgery may be paid.
- Co-surgeons
- Co-surgeons paid only with supporting documentation.
- Team surgery
- Team surgery not permitted.
Where the value comes from
- Work RVU6.25 · 48%
- Practice expense (office) RVU5.77 · 44%
- Malpractice RVU0.98 · 8%
9.5K
Medicare services in 2024 · #1496 by national volume
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.
27687 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Vermont, from the same CMS release.
No office rate
Code 27686 concerns lengthening or shortening multiple leg or ankle tendons; 27687 identifies a gastrocnemius recession.
No office rate
Code 27690 is for transferring or transplanting a tendon. It is not the code for releasing or lengthening the gastrocnemius aponeurosis.
Compare 27687 by payment locality
Find the payment area for your service address, then open its rate page for calculation inputs, release history and the percentage-of-Medicare tool. A city may cross payment-area boundaries; the ZIP lookup above helps resolve the location.
1 of 1 payment localities
Vermont →
Office / nonfacility
Unavailable
Facility
$416.11
Need rates for a whole code list?
Fee-sheet and API access are in early access. Tell us which codes and locations your team needs.
How this local rate is calculated
Each RVU component is multiplied by its own geographic practice cost index (GPCI). The three adjusted components are added, then multiplied by the conversion factor. These are the inputs used for 27687 in Vermont.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
3,007
- Code
- 27687
- Physician work
- 6.25
- Practice expense
- 5.77
- Malpractice
- 0.98
GPCI2026.csv
105
- Locality
- Vermont
- Physician work
- 1.000
- Practice expense
- 0.990
- Malpractice
- 0.506
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 6.25 | × 1.000 | 6.2500 |
| Practice expense | 5.77 | × 0.990 | 5.7123 |
| Malpractice | 0.98 | × 0.506 | 0.4959 |
| Total RVUs | 12.4582 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Facility rate, Vermont$416.11
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Facility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 6.25 | 1 |
| Practice expense | 5.77 | 0.99 |
| Malpractice | 0.98 | 0.506 |
(6.25 × 1 + 5.77 × 0.99 + 0.98 × 0.506) × $33.4009 = $416.11
The office and facility calculations use their respective practice-expense RVUs. The facility amount here is the physician fee, not a separate hospital or facility bill.
27687 billing questions
How is this different from a general tendon lengthening?
This code is for a gastrocnemius recession. Use a general leg or ankle tendon-lengthening code when the operative work is lengthening a different tendon rather than recessing the gastrocnemius.
Does the code include Achilles tendon lengthening?
No. A gastrocnemius recession addresses tightness in the gastrocnemius aponeurosis; Achilles tendon lengthening is a different operative service.
What documentation supports the code?
Document the reason for surgery, the involved side, findings showing gastrocnemius tightness or equinus, and the operative technique and structures treated.
How is bilateral surgery reported?
CMS identifies this as a bilateral procedure. Reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%.
What postoperative care is included?
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 indices and the applicable conversion factor. Unavailable or separately priced services are labeled rather than assigned a made-up amount.
Source: RVU26D. Effective 2026-10-01 through the day before 2027-01-01.
3,00427681,,Release of lower leg tendons,A,,6.87,6.55,NA,6.55,,1.24,14.66,14.66,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,1,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,00527685,,Revision of lower leg tendon,A,,6.52,12.97,,5.84,,0.92,20.41,13.28,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,00627686,,Revise lower leg tendons,A,,7.56,6.28,NA,6.28,,1.22,15.06,15.06,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,1,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,00727687,,Revision of calf tendon,A,,6.25,5.77,NA,5.77,,0.98,13.00,13.00,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,00827690,,Revise lower leg tendon,A,,8.94,7.91,NA,7.91,,1.36,18.21,18.21,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,00927691,,Revise lower leg tendon,A,,10.23,9.04,NA,9.04,,1.76,21.03,21.03,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,01027692,,Revise additional leg tendon,A,,1.82,0.51,NA,0.51,,0.35,2.68,2.68,0,ZZZ,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
10204412,TX,18,HOUSTON,1.008,0.993,1.376
10304412,TX,99,REST OF TEXAS,1.000,0.949,0.903
10403502,UT,09,UTAH,1.000,0.940,0.898
10514512,VT,50,VERMONT,1.000,0.990,0.506
10611302,VA,00,VIRGINIA,1.000,0.983,0.706
10709202,VI,50,VIRGIN ISLANDS,1.000,1.011,0.985
10802402,WA,02,SEATTLE (KING CNTY),1.050,1.227,0.817