CPT code 20705: Device removal, intra-articular drug delivery2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
Removal of a drug-delivery device from a joint is reported with the primary operation when a previously placed intra-articular implant is taken out.
Medicare pays $132.54–$147.57 for 20705 in the office in Illinois, from Rest of Illinois to Chicago, IL. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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On this page 9 sections
What 20705 covers
This code represents operative removal of a drug-delivery device positioned inside a joint. A representative situation is removal of an antibiotic-containing spacer during a staged operation for an infected joint. Orthopedic surgeons and other physicians performing musculoskeletal surgery may encounter this work in an operating room or hospital facility. The device’s intra-articular location and drug-delivery purpose distinguish the service from removal of ordinary fixation hardware or a joint prosthesis.
Report 20705 only with the primary procedure performed during the operative encounter; it is not a standalone service. The operative report should identify the device, document its intra-articular location and removal, and support the associated primary operation. CMS treats this as an add-on code, with payment falling within the primary procedure’s global period. The site of the device—not the specific medication or the reason for its use—guides selection among the related drug-delivery device codes.
This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.
Where 20705 pays more and less in Illinois
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
4 payment localities
$132.54 to $147.57
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $147.57 | $125.41 |
| East St. Louis, IL | $139.32 | $119.04 |
| Rest of Illinois | $132.54 | $112.41 |
| Suburban Chicago, IL | $141.02 | $118.38 |
How the 20705 rate is calculated
Each of 20705’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.
How the rate is built · 20705
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work2.10
2.10 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense1.31
1.31 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.43
0.43 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
3.8400
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$128.26
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 20705
The CMS indicators that decide how 20705 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 20705
Device removal, intra-articular drug delivery
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | ZZZ | Add-on code: falls within the primary procedure’s global period. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
20705 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 20703Device removalIntramedullary placement
- Both describe removal of a drug-delivery device, but 20705 is selected for an intra-articular location and 20703 for an intramedullary location.
- 20701Device removalDeep location
- 20701 describes removal from a deep location; 20705 applies when the device is located inside a joint.
- 20704Drug device placementIntra-articular preparation and insertion
- 20704 covers preparation and insertion of a drug-delivery device in a joint. 20705 describes removal of a previously placed intra-articular device.
20705 billing questions
Can 20705 be reported by itself?
No. It is an add-on code and must be reported with a primary procedure.
How does 20705 differ from 20703?
20705 is for removal of a drug-delivery device located inside a joint; 20703 is for removal of one located in the intramedullary space.
Is removal of every joint implant reported with 20705?
No. The code concerns an intra-articular device used to deliver medication, such as an antibiotic-containing spacer, not routine removal of a prosthesis or fixation hardware.
What should the operative report document?
Document the device’s drug-delivery purpose, its intra-articular location, its removal, and the primary procedure performed in the same encounter.
Can a joint spacer qualify?
A spacer used to deliver medication may fit when it is removed from the joint. The device’s purpose and location should be clear in the operative documentation.
Where these rates come from
FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.
CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027
Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
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