CPT Code 27130: Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA), with or without autograft or allograft

What is total hip replacement?

CPT 27130 refers to total hip arthroplasty, a surgery where both the femoral head and acetabulum of the hip joint are replaced with prosthetic components. The phrase "with or without autograft or allograft" means the surgeon may or may not use extra bone, either from the patient (autograft) or a donor (allograft), during the procedure.

This procedure is medically necessary for patients suffering from severe osteoarthritis, avascular necrosis, or hip fractures that impair mobility and cause chronic pain. By restoring joint function and relieving pain, total hip replacement improves quality of life and is one of the most commonly performed orthopedic surgical procedures.

The procedure may involve either the right hip or left hip, and careful documentation in patient records is essential to support medical necessity. Healthcare providers must also determine appropriate modifiers, especially for bilateral procedures, and ensure accurate coding for reimbursement. CPT code 27130 is typically reimbursed by Medicare and other payers when clinical criteria are met and proper documentation is submitted.

Documentation requirements

To ensure accurate billing and medical necessity for CPT 27130, healthcare providers must include the following in the patient records along with the date and time of procedure:

• Diagnosis and medical need for hip replacement (e.g., osteoarthritis, fracture, avascular necrosis)
• Side of the body involved (right hip, left hip, or bilateral)
• Preoperative and postoperative function, mobility, and pain levels
• Imaging studies or diagnostics confirming the condition of the hip joint, femoral head, or acetabulum
• Detailed surgical procedure notes, including proximal femoral prosthetic replacement and the type of implant used
• Documentation of non-surgical alternatives attempted and failed
• Any modifier applied, especially for multiple procedures or bilateral cases
• Hospital or surgical facility used, and the physician or non-physician practitioner who performed the procedure

Thorough documentation supports proper reimbursement, reduces claim denials, and provides clarity during review by Medicare or commercial payers.

Billing guidelines

Billing CPT 27130 requires strict adherence to coding guidelines and payer-specific rules to ensure medical necessity and optimize reimbursement.

Report per hip joint

• CPT code 27130 should be reported once per hip joint replacement (left hip or right hip).
• For bilateral procedures, append modifier -50 and verify if the payer accepts this format or prefers two line items with RT/LT modifiers.

Use modifiers appropriately

• Use modifiers to indicate laterality (RT, LT, 50) or multiple procedures performed in the same session.
• Append modifier -59 only if the surgical procedures are distinct and separately performed.

Medicare and reimbursement

• The code for total hip is typically reimbursed by Medicare when it meets medical necessity criteria and is supported by accurate documentation.
• Reimbursement can be affected by factors such as complications, revision history, and type of implant (e.g., proximal femoral prosthetic replacement).
• Alignment with Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) and payer-specific coverage criteria is vital.

Don’t bundle with related procedures

• If revision or removal of hardware (e.g., femoral head, acetabulum) is performed, check if it’s included or separately reportable. Use specific codes for revisions.
• Do not unbundle components already covered under CPT code 27130 unless a distinct procedural service is supported.