Reimbursement
$1125.58
Threshold
N/A
2026 Status
Active
What is CPT Code 27447?
CPT 27447 is defined as: Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) is a major surgical procedure involving the replacement of the damaged or diseased surfaces of the knee joint with prosthetic components. The procedure includes the resurfacing of the medial and lateral femoral condyles and the tibial plateau, with or without resurfacing of the patella. It is the definitive treatment for end-stage osteoarthritis or severe joint destruction.
This code is primarily used for Specialist services. It falls under the category of Surgery / Musculoskeletal System and is valid for the 2026 calendar year according to the CMS Physician Fee Schedule.
2026 RVU Components
Relative Value Units (Non-Facility)
Work RVU
18.5
Physician Effort
PE (Non-Fac)
12.5
Practice Expense
Malpractice
Risk Factor
Total RVU
33.7
Note: [(Work RVU * Work GPCI) + (PE RVU * PE GPCI) + (MP RVU * MP GPCI)] * Conversion Factor
2026 CMS Policy Intelligence
efficiency adjustment
Subject to -2.5% Efficiency Adjustment. CMS has reduced the Work RVU component based on time studies showing that surgical refinements and perioperative 'ERAS' (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) protocols have reduced the total physician time involved.
pe facility redistribution
As a facility-based service, TKA is impacted by the 2026 shift in indirect cost allocation, which reduces facility-based PE relative to office-based services.
conversion factor
Utilizes the 2026 Non-QP rate of $33.40.
Administrative Framework
Global Period
090 (90 Days)
Place of Service
NCCI Exclusions
Key Modifiers
Operational Requirements
global bundle
The 90-day global period includes the pre-operative visit (day before), the surgery, and all routine post-operative care for 90 days. Complications that do not require a return to the OR are also included.
inpatient vs outpatient
TKA was removed from the Medicare Inpatient-Only (IPO) list; it can be performed in an ASC or Outpatient Hospital setting (POS 22) if the patient meets safety criteria.
documentation operative note
Must detail the approach (e.g., medial parapatellar), bone cuts, implant types and sizes, and ligament balancing techniques.
assistant surgeon necessity
Medicare Advantage and commercial payers may require documentation of why an assistant surgeon (Modifier 80) was required for a routine TKA.
Compliance Checklist
Audit Defense
No specific audit defense elements defined.
2026 Update
Work RVU reduced by 2.5% efficiency adjustment. National payment is ~$1162.68 (Facility).
Common Clinical Scenarios
No clinical examples provided.
Target Specialties & Utilization
Typical Clinical Indications (ICD-10)
Frequently Asked Questions
Maximize Revenue with AI Confidence
Stop leaving earned revenue on the table. CPT Copilot (Coming Soon) automatically handles the complexity of 2026 CMS policies, identifying every opportunity while ensuring 100% compliance.