Billing code 27596: Amputation revisionMedicare rate & RVUs in Washington
Reports repeat surgery at a prior thigh-level amputation site when the femoral stump requires re-amputation, secondary closure, or scar revision.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 27596 in Washington.
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 27596 covers
This code describes repeat surgery on a previous amputation through the thigh, such as re-amputating the femoral stump or addressing the site with secondary closure or scar revision. It may be performed when a prior stump needs further operative treatment, including for nonhealing tissue or a wound problem. Orthopedic or vascular surgeons typically perform the procedure in a hospital operating room or another surgical facility.
Select this code for the documented thigh-level reoperation, not for the original amputation. The operative report should establish the prior amputation, the level and extent of the new work, and whether the procedure involved re-amputation, secondary closure, or scar revision. Medicare assigns a 90-day major-surgery global period; the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is statutorily restricted; co-surgeons are paid only with 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 27596 pays more and less in Washington
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rest Of Washington | Unavailable | $654.52 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | Unavailable | $708.58 |
How the 27596 rate is calculated
Each of 27596’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 · 27596
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 11.01Practice expense 6.11Malpractice 2.64
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 27596
27596 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 27596
Amputation revision
| 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) | 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 · 27596
Amputation revision
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
27596 without 50 · national facility
$660.00
Amputation revision
27596-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$990.00
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).
27596 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
27596 vs 27594 vs 27590 vs 27592 vs 27598: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 27594Amputation revision
- Both concern revision at a thigh amputation site. Choose 27596 when the documented work is re-amputation with secondary closure or scar revision; use 27594 when its distinct revision service fits.
- 27590Thigh amputation
- 27590 is an initial thigh amputation. This code is for repeat surgery at a previously amputated thigh-level site.
- 27592Thigh amputation
- 27592 describes an initial thigh amputation with primary closure; 27596 concerns reoperation at an existing amputation site.
- 27598Leg amputation
- 27598 is an amputation through the knee joint. This code concerns repeat surgery at a thigh-level amputation site.
27596 billing questions
How does this differ from 27594?
27596 describes repeat thigh-level amputation work involving secondary closure or scar revision. Use 27594 for the other listed thigh-amputation revision service when its operative work matches that code instead.
Can this code be used for the original thigh amputation?
No. It applies to a reoperation at a prior thigh-level amputation site. Codes 27590–27592 describe the initial thigh amputation options.
What documentation supports reporting 27596?
Document the prior amputation, the thigh-level site, the reason for repeat surgery, and the actual re-amputation, secondary closure, or scar revision performed.
Are related postoperative visits separately included?
The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the major-surgery global period.
How are two procedures in the same session paid?
Medicare pays the highest-valued procedure in full and the other procedure or procedures at 50% under the standard multiple procedure reduction.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is statutorily restricted. Co-surgeons are paid only with supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.
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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