Superficial partial excision of the wing of the ilium, symphysis pubis, or greater trochanter of the femur using craterization or saucerization technique, typically performed for osteomyelitis or bone abscess.

Verified May 8, 2026 · 7 sources ↓

Medicare: $826.00
Total RVUs: 24.73
Global, days: 90
Region: Hip

Drawn from CMSNIHEmednyCgsmedicare

Documentation requirements

What must appear in the operative or office note to support the claim.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 7 cited references ↓

Specific anatomic site: wing of ilium, symphysis pubis, or greater trochanter of femur — not generic 'hip bone'
Explicit documentation of depth: superficial (to distinguish from 27071 subfascial/intramuscular)
Technique used: craterization, saucerization, or both — named in the operative report
Clinical indication supporting the procedure, e.g., osteomyelitis, bone abscess, or pathology confirming infected/necrotic bone
Intraoperative cultures or pathology specimen documentation when infection is the indication
Laterality recorded in the operative note and on the claim (LT or RT modifier)

Applicable modifiers

Modifiers commonly billed with this code.

Source · AMA CPT modifier descriptors · CMS NCCI Policy Manual

22 Increased complexity 50 Bilateral procedure 51 Multiple procedures 52 Reduced services 59 Distinct service 76 Repeat, same physician 77 Repeat, another physician 78 Unplanned return — related 79 Unrelated during global LT Left side RT Right side XS Separate structure

What this code covers

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 7 cited references ↓

CPT 27070 covers a superficial partial excision — via craterization or saucerization — of one of three specific bony sites at the pelvis and proximal femur: the wing of the ilium, the symphysis pubis, or the greater trochanter of the femur. The procedure removes infected, necrotic, or otherwise diseased bone down to a saucer- or crater-shaped cavity while preserving surrounding viable tissue. It is most commonly indicated for osteomyelitis or bone abscess that has failed non-operative management.

The 'superficial' designation distinguishes 27070 from its deeper counterpart, 27071 (subfascial or intramuscular excision). That distinction is not cosmetic — it drives code selection, RVU assignment, and audit scrutiny. Operative notes must clearly document the depth of dissection and the specific anatomic site treated to support the superficial designation and defend against a downcode or an upgrade challenge.

The procedure carries a 90-day global period. All routine follow-up, wound checks, and dressing changes through day 90 are bundled. Separate E/M visits within the global window require modifier 24 (unrelated evaluation) or modifier 25 (significant, separately identifiable same-day E/M). An unplanned return to the OR for a related complication — such as persistent infection — bills under modifier 78. An unrelated procedure during the global period uses modifier 79.

RVU & reimbursement

Component RVUs and Medicare national rate. Actual payment varies by GPCI locality.

Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026

Work RVU	11.27
Practice expense RVU	11.21
Malpractice RVU	2.25
Total RVU	24.73
Medicare national rate	$826.00
Global period	90 days

Payment by site of service

Medicare pays different rates by setting. HOPD typically pays substantially more than ASC for the same procedure.

Source · CMS OPPS Addendum B·ASC HCPCS payment rates·2026

Setting	Medicare rate (national)
Office (PFS non-facility) Procedure performed in physician's office	$826.00
HOPD (APC 5113) Hospital outpatient department	$3,342.87
ASC (PI J8) Ambulatory surgical center (freestanding)	$2,685.62

Common denial reasons

The recurring reasons claims for CPT 27070 get rejected.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in CMS NCCI edits, AAOS coding appeals, and cited references ↓

Operative note says 'standard approach' or 'hip bone excision' without naming the specific anatomic site
Depth of excision not documented, causing payer to downcode to a lower-complexity excision or deny outright
Missing or unsupported clinical indication — no imaging, culture, or pathology confirming osteomyelitis or abscess
Laterality modifier (LT/RT) absent on the claim, triggering rejection at claims-processing level
Bundling conflict when 27070 is billed same-session with a more comprehensive pelvis or hip procedure without a clinically supported modifier 59 or XS

Frequently asked questions

Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 7 cited references ↓

01What is the difference between CPT 27070 and CPT 27071?

Depth of excision. CPT 27070 is superficial; 27071 is deep (subfascial or intramuscular). The operative note must document which plane the dissection reached — without that language, payers will default to the lower-paying code or deny for insufficient documentation.

02How does the 90-day global period affect post-op billing for 27070?

All routine follow-up visits, wound checks, and dressing changes through day 90 are bundled into the procedure. A separate E/M during the global period needs modifier 24 if unrelated to the surgery, or modifier 25 if it's a significant, separately identifiable service on the day of surgery.

03Can 27070 be billed bilaterally?

Yes, if the procedure is performed on both sides at the same session, append modifier 50. Bill on one claim line with modifier 50; reimbursement is typically capped at 150% of the single-procedure fee. Always append LT and RT on separate lines when individual payer instructions require that format instead.

04Which modifier applies if the patient returns to the OR for ongoing osteomyelitis during the global period?

Modifier 78 — unplanned return to the OR for a related procedure during the global period. Do not use modifier 79 for this scenario; 79 is for unrelated procedures. Using them interchangeably is an audit red flag.

05What ICD-10 diagnoses most commonly pair with 27070?

Osteomyelitis codes (M86 series, site-specific to pelvis and femur) and bone abscess are the primary supporting diagnoses. Chronic osteomyelitis with a draining sinus or with sequestrum should be coded to the most specific subcategory. Mismatched or nonspecific diagnosis codes are a top reason for medical necessity denial on this code.

06Is 27070 performed in an ASC or inpatient setting, and does it affect payment?

27070 is performed in inpatient hospital, outpatient hospital, and ASC settings. Site of service affects the facility payment rate — see the Site of Service comparison table on this page for HOPD versus ASC figures. The physician professional fee differs by site as well; bill the facility-appropriate place-of-service code accurately or expect a site-of-service payment adjustment.

Sources & references

Editorial content was developed using the following public sources. Last verified May 8, 2026.

Mira AI Scribe

Mira's AI scribe captures the anatomic site (ilium wing, symphysis pubis, or greater trochanter), the depth descriptor (superficial vs. subfascial), the technique (craterization or saucerization), and the clinical indication (osteomyelitis, bone abscess) directly from dictation. That prevents the two most common 27070 audit flags: an operative note that omits the specific site name and one that fails to document depth — either of which gives a payer grounds to deny or downcode the claim.

See how Mira captures CPT 27070 documentation