CPT code 29126: Short-arm splint, dynamic2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
Reports application of a dynamic forearm-to-hand splint that supports the wrist or hand while permitting controlled movement, rather than a static short-arm splint.
Medicare pays $81.94–$89.86 for 29126 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 29126 covers
CPT 29126 covers applying a dynamic splint that extends from the forearm to the hand and permits or assists controlled movement. It may be used when the wrist or hand needs guided support during treatment of stiffness, limited motion, or other upper-extremity conditions. Orthopedic and hand clinicians, including therapists working within their scope, may apply it in an office, rehabilitation setting, or facility.
Choose this code for a dynamic short-arm splint; 29125 is for a static short-arm splint, while long-arm or finger-only splints use different codes. Document the treated side, forearm-to-hand extent, dynamic features, clinical indication, and application performed. The code has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Bilateral application with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
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 29126 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
$81.94 to $89.86
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $89.86 | $49.57 |
| East St. Louis, IL | $83.72 | $46.84 |
| Rest of Illinois | $81.94 | $45.35 |
| Suburban Chicago, IL | $89.61 | $48.45 |
How the 29126 rate is calculated
Each of 29126’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 · 29126
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.66
0.66 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense1.81
1.81 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.09
0.09 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
2.5600
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$85.51
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 29126
The CMS indicators that decide how 29126 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 29126
Short-arm splint, dynamic
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 1 | Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
29126 without 50 · national office
$85.51
Short-arm splint, dynamic
29126-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$128.27
Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).
29126 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 29125Short arm splintStatic
- Both cover short-arm splint application. Select 29126 for a dynamic design that permits or assists controlled movement; select 29125 for a static design.
- 29105Splint applicationLong arm, shoulder to hand
- 29105 is for a long-arm splint. Choose 29126 when the splint is short-arm and extends from the forearm to the hand.
- 29131Splint applicationDynamic finger
- 29131 applies to a dynamic finger splint. Choose 29126 when the dynamic splint covers the short-arm forearm-to-hand area.
29126 billing questions
How do I choose between 29126 and 29125?
Use 29126 when the short-arm splint is dynamic and permits or assists controlled movement. Use 29125 for a static short-arm splint.
What documentation supports 29126?
Document the clinical reason for splinting, the side and forearm-to-hand extent, the dynamic design, and the application performed.
How is bilateral application reported?
Report modifier 50 for bilateral application. CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for 29126. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
Does 29126 describe the splint device as well as its application?
The code identifies application of a dynamic short-arm splint. It does not by itself establish whether a particular device or supply is separately reportable.
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.
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