Percutaneous tenotomy of a single adductor or hamstring tendon in the thigh, performed through a small skin incision without open exposure.

Verified May 8, 2026 · 8 sources ↓

Medicare: $324.99
Total RVUs: 9.73
Global, days: 90
Region: Knee

Drawn from CMSFindacodeFastrvuAAPCAbos

Documentation requirements

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

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 8 cited references ↓

Confirm and document the percutaneous approach — note that no open dissection was performed.
Identify the specific tendon divided (adductor longus, gracilis, semitendinosus, semimembranosus, biceps femoris, etc.).
Document the single-tendon count; if a second tendon was released at the same session, 27307 is the correct code.
Record the clinical indication — spasticity, contracture, impingement, or other pathology driving the release.
Include laterality (left vs. right thigh) to support LT/RT modifier assignment.
Operative note must distinguish this as a standalone procedure or justify separate reporting if billed alongside a more comprehensive same-site code.

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 59 Distinct service 78 Unplanned return — related 79 Unrelated during global 80 Assistant surgeon AS PA/NP/CNS assistant LT Left side RT Right side XS Separate structure

What this code covers

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 8 cited references ↓

CPT 27306 describes a percutaneous tenotomy in which the surgeon divides one adductor or hamstring tendon through a minimal skin incision — no open dissection, no joint entry. The labeled indication is the thigh region, and the code is designated a separate procedure, meaning it bundles into more comprehensive same-site surgery unless a distinct clinical rationale and modifier support separate billing.

When multiple tendons are released at the same session, step up to 27307. When the approach is open rather than percutaneous, 27305 (iliotibial fasciotomy/tenotomy) or 27390 (open hamstring tenotomy, knee to hip) may apply depending on which tendon and which technique. Billing 27306 for an open release will draw audit scrutiny — document the percutaneous technique explicitly.

The 90-day global period covers the operative visit, the day-before pre-op, and all routine post-op care through day 90. Unrelated E/M services during the global window need modifier 24. A new, unrelated surgical procedure in the global period needs modifier 79. If the patient returns for a complication requiring a related return to the OR, use modifier 78.

RVU & reimbursement

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

Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026

Work RVU	4.62
Practice expense RVU	4.64
Malpractice RVU	0.47
Total RVU	9.73
Medicare national rate	$324.99
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	$324.99
HOPD (APC 5113) Hospital outpatient department	$3,342.87
ASC (PI A2) Ambulatory surgical center (freestanding)	$1,644.87

Common denial reasons

The recurring reasons claims for CPT 27306 get rejected.

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

Unbundling denial when 27306 is billed alongside a more comprehensive open or arthroscopic knee procedure on the same date without a bypass modifier.
Code-tendon mismatch: billing 27306 when operative documentation describes an open approach, which maps to 27390 or 27305 instead.
Missing laterality modifier causes payer system rejection or processing delay on bilateral claims.
Single-tendon code billed when the note documents two or more tendons released — should be 27307.
Global period denial when a routine post-op visit is billed without modifier 24 within the 90-day window.

Frequently asked questions

Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 8 cited references ↓

01What is the difference between 27306 and 27307?

27306 covers a single adductor or hamstring tendon released percutaneously. If you release two or more tendons at the same session, bill 27307 instead. Billing 27306 twice for a bilateral single-tendon release is also incorrect — use 27306-50 or 27306-LT/RT on separate lines.

02Can 27306 be billed on the same day as a knee arthroscopy?

Not routinely. The 'separate procedure' designation means 27306 bundles into more comprehensive same-site surgery. NCCI edits apply. If the tenotomy was performed at a distinct anatomic site with independent clinical justification, modifier 59 or XS may bypass the edit — but the operative note must support that clearly.

03What modifier do I use when 27306 is performed bilaterally?

Bill one line with modifier 50 for a bilateral same-session release, or two lines with LT and RT respectively, depending on payer preference. Medicare generally accepts modifier 50 on a single line; some commercial payers want split lines. Confirm with your MAC or payer contract.

04Does 27306 have a global period, and what does that include?

Yes — 90-day global. That covers the day-before pre-op visit, the surgery, and all routine post-op care through day 90. Any E/M visit for an unrelated condition during that window needs modifier 24. A related return to the OR needs modifier 78; an unrelated surgical procedure needs modifier 79.

05When should I use 27390 instead of 27306?

27390 is for an open hamstring tenotomy from knee to hip — a single tendon, open approach. If the surgeon made a formal open incision with tissue dissection rather than a percutaneous stab technique, 27390 is the correct code. Billing 27306 for an open release is a documentation-to-code mismatch and an audit target.

06Is 27306 appropriate for adductor release in a pediatric spasticity case?

Yes, 27306 is the standard code for percutaneous adductor tenotomy regardless of patient age or underlying diagnosis (spasticity, cerebral palsy, contracture). Document the specific adductor tendon released and confirm the percutaneous technique. If multiple tendons are released, step up to 27307.

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 approach (percutaneous vs. open), the specific tendon name, the tendon count, and the operative laterality directly from dictation. That data populates the procedure note and feeds modifier selection — preventing the open-vs.-percutaneous mismatch and the single-vs.-multiple-tendon coding error that are the two most common audit flags on 27306 claims.

See how Mira captures CPT 27306 documentation