Surgical · Hip

Deep partial excision of the iliac wing, symphysis pubis, or greater trochanter of the femur, including techniques such as craterization or saucerization.

Verified May 8, 2026 · 5 sources ↓

Medicare: $916.19
Total RVUs: 27.43
Global, days: 90
Region: Hip

Drawn from CMSBedrockbillingAAPC

Documentation requirements

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

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 5 cited references ↓

Specify the exact anatomic site resected: iliac wing, symphysis pubis, or greater trochanter of the femur
Name the surgical technique used — craterization, saucerization, or other — do not write 'standard excision'
Document the depth of the procedure explicitly as deep or subfascial to support 27071 over the less extensive 27070
Include pathologic indication: osteomyelitis diagnosis, necrotic bone margins, tumor involvement, or other qualifying condition
Record intraoperative findings including extent of bony involvement and any concurrent procedures performed
If implant removal was performed as part of the same field, document that it was integral to the excision, not a standalone step

Applicable modifiers

Modifiers commonly billed with this code.

Source · AMA CPT modifier descriptors · CMS NCCI Policy Manual

22 Increased complexity 51 Multiple procedures 52 Reduced services 58 Staged or related 59 Distinct service 62 Co-surgeons 74 Discontinued post-anesthesia 78 Unplanned return — related 79 Unrelated during global 80 Assistant surgeon LT Left side RT Right side

What this code covers

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 5 cited references ↓

27071 covers a deep partial excision of a bony prominence at the hip — specifically a portion of the iliac wing, symphysis pubis, or greater trochanter — performed through open surgical access. Techniques include craterization (hollowing the bone) or saucerization (creating a shallow concave surface), used to debride infected, necrotic, or otherwise pathologic bone to a viable margin. This is a deep procedure, distinguishing it from the more superficial 27070.

CMS designates 27071 as an inpatient-only procedure under OPPS. It carries a 90-day global period, meaning all routine follow-up through day 90 is bundled into the surgical payment. Any separate E/M within that window for an unrelated condition requires modifier 24. Implant removal (20680) is not separately billable when performed as an integral step of this procedure per NCCI policy.

The code falls squarely in orthopedic surgery billing. Osteomyelitis debridement and infected hardware situations are common clinical drivers. Because the procedure involves complex bony anatomy and frequently accompanies other hip procedures, NCCI bundling edits are a real audit risk — verify Column 2 code pairs before submission.

RVU & reimbursement

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

Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026

Work RVU	12.08
Practice expense RVU	12.8
Malpractice RVU	2.55
Total RVU	27.43
Medicare national rate	$916.19
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	$916.19
HOPD (APC 5113) Hospital outpatient department	$3,342.87
ASC (PI G2) Ambulatory surgical center (freestanding)	$1,644.87

Common denial reasons

The recurring reasons claims for CPT 27071 get rejected.

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

Insufficient documentation of depth — notes that do not clearly establish the procedure as deep rather than superficial trigger downcoding to 27070
Separate billing of implant removal (20680) alongside 27071 when removal was integral to the excision — NCCI bundles these
Site of service conflict: 27071 is inpatient-only under Medicare OPPS; claims submitted for HOPD encounters without inpatient admission will be denied
Diagnosis-code mismatch: payers reject claims when the ICD-10 submitted does not support deep bony resection at the documented anatomic site
Missing operative report or incomplete dictation that omits technique and bony site, making the claim unauditable

Frequently asked questions

Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 5 cited references ↓

01What is the difference between 27070 and 27071?

27070 is the superficial (partial) excision; 27071 is the deep version. Depth must be explicitly documented in the operative note — subfascial or intramuscular involvement supports 27071. Without that documentation, auditors will downcode to 27070.

02Can 27071 be performed in an ASC or outpatient hospital under Medicare?

No. CMS classifies 27071 as an inpatient-only procedure under OPPS. Medicare requires an inpatient admission. Submitting this code on an outpatient facility claim will result in a denial. Commercial payers may differ — verify individual contracts.

03Can I bill 20680 separately if I removed deep hardware during the same procedure?

Not if the removal was an integral step of the excision. NCCI Chapter IV policy states that implant removal (20680) is not separately reportable when it is part of the primary procedure. Document it in the operative note as incidental to the excision.

04What modifier applies if I return to the OR within the 90-day global for a related complication?

Use modifier 78 for an unplanned return to the OR for a complication related to the original procedure. Modifier 79 applies only if the return procedure is unrelated to the original surgery. Do not invert these.

05What ICD-10 diagnoses most commonly support 27071?

Osteomyelitis of the pelvis or proximal femur (M86-series), avascular necrosis with bony collapse, and neoplastic or cystic lesions of the ilium or greater trochanter are the most common supporting diagnoses. The diagnosis must match the documented anatomic site of excision.

06Does the 90-day global period include the preoperative visit the day before surgery?

Yes. The day-before visit, the surgery itself, and all routine post-op care through day 90 are bundled. Bill modifier 57 only if the decision for surgery was made at a separate E/M on the day of or day before the procedure.

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 (iliac wing, symphysis pubis, or greater trochanter), surgical depth, and technique name (craterization or saucerization) directly from dictation. It flags when implant removal is described as part of the same operative field — preventing a separate 20680 claim that NCCI will deny. It also logs the pathologic indication and intraoperative extent of bony involvement, which auditors require to distinguish 27071 from the less extensive 27070.

See how Mira captures CPT 27071 documentation