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CPT code 29440: Cast walker, added to prior cast2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Report this service when a clinician adds a walking support to a cast that has already been applied, allowing the patient to bear weight on it.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality14 Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $49.51 for 29440 in the office and $27.87 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$49.51Office (non-facility)
$27.87Hospital or facility
+12.3%vs the national office rate ($44.09)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 29440 nationwide

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

We’ll open 29440 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 29440 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 29440 covers

This service modifies an existing cast by adding a walking support, such as a walker or walking heel, so the patient can bear weight on the cast. It is typically performed in an orthopedic or podiatry clinic or cast room when a lower-extremity cast is being converted for walking after its initial application.

Report 29440 for the addition to the previously applied cast, not for applying a new walking cast. Documentation should identify the existing cast, the support added, the treated side, and the clinical reason for the modification. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. For a bilateral service reported with modifier 50, payment is 150%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service; 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.

How Washington, DC area compares for 29440

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 29440 runs from $39.94 in Arkansas to $55.85 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $49.51. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

29440 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$49.51
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$48.63−$0.88
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$47.61−$1.90
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$46.50−$3.01
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$50.11+$0.60
  6. Alaska · Alaska$54.23+$4.72
  7. Alabama · Alabama$40.40−$9.11

Other areas in District of Columbia first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

29440 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$39.94$24.16
ArizonaArizona$43.11$25.31
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$46.07$25.93
Chico, CACalifornia$45.91$25.77
El Centro, CACalifornia$45.92$25.78
Fresno, CACalifornia$45.91$25.77
Hanford, CACalifornia$45.91$25.77
Madera, CACalifornia$45.91$25.77

29440 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

$39.94

$54.23

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
29440 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$54.231
AL$40.401
AR$39.941
AZ$43.111
CA$45.91–$55.8529
CO$45.471
CT$46.641
DC$49.511
DE$43.731
FL$43.89–$47.613
GA$41.85–$44.862
GU$46.641
HI$46.641
IA$41.071
ID$41.311
IL$42.97–$46.504
IN$41.501
KS$40.981
KY$41.311
LA$41.29–$42.922
MA$45.31–$49.272
MD$44.42–$49.513
ME$41.56–$43.262
MI$42.24–$44.402
MN$43.601
MO$40.77–$42.953
MS$40.361
MT$44.091
NC$41.901
ND$43.101
NE$41.221
NH$44.851
NJ$47.18–$49.182
NM$42.461
NV$43.831
NY$42.41–$51.205
OH$42.041
OK$41.181
OR$43.50–$46.592
PA$42.05–$45.722
PR$44.321
RI$45.051
SC$42.041
SD$42.981
TN$41.161
TX$41.84–$45.318
UT$42.501
VA$43.20–$49.512
VI$44.321
VT$43.031
WA$45.19–$50.102
WI$41.941
WV$41.701
WY$43.651

See 29440 in every payment locality

How the 29440 rate is calculated

Each of 29440’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 · 29440

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.56

0.56 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.71

0.71 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.05

0.05 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

1.3200

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$44.09

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

The exact Washington, DC area inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

3,294

Code
29440
Physician work
0.56
Practice expense
0.71
Malpractice
0.05

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 29440 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.56× 1.0540.5902
Practice expense0.71× 1.1780.8364
Malpractice0.05× 1.1130.0557
Total RVUs1.4823
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$49.51

Office: (0.56 × 1.054 + 0.71 × 1.178 + 0.05 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $49.51

Facility: (0.56 × 1.054 + 0.16 × 1.178 + 0.05 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $27.87

Open 29440 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 29440

The CMS indicators that decide how 29440 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 29440

Cast walker, added to prior cast

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

29440 without 50 · national office

$44.09

Cast walker, added to prior cast

29440-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$66.14

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).

When to use modifier 50

Codes related to 29440

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 29440
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Used instead
29405Short leg cast, nonwalking castApplies a short leg cast; 29440 modifies a cast already applied.$99.97
29425Walking cast, short legApplies a short leg walking cast rather than adding a walker to an existing cast.$91.79
29435PTB cast, below kneeApplies a patellar tendon-bearing cast, a different cast service.$158.79

How 29440 has changed in Washington, DC area

29440 · Office / nonfacility

$49.51

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $1.13 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $48.38 to $49.51 (2.3%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $48.38changed to$49.51

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.57 changed to 0.56
    • Malpractice RVU 0.04 changed to 0.05
    • Work GPCI 1.057 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.192 changed to 1.178
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.168 changed to 1.113

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $49.38changed to$48.38

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 0.69 changed to 0.71
    • Malpractice RVU 0.05 changed to 0.04

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $48.57changed to$49.38

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $49.22changed to$48.57

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 0.66 changed to 0.69
    • Malpractice RVU 0.04 changed to 0.05
    • Work GPCI 1.056 changed to 1.057
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.214 changed to 1.192
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.231 changed to 1.168

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $49.55changed to$49.22

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 0.62 changed to 0.66
    • Malpractice RVU 0.05 changed to 0.04
    • Work GPCI 1.054 changed to 1.056
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.236 changed to 1.214
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.294 changed to 1.231

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $49.96changed to$49.55

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $50.76changed to$49.96

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 0.61 changed to 0.62
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.221 changed to 1.236
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.277 changed to 1.294

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $50.64changed to$50.76

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 0.63 changed to 0.61
    • Malpractice RVU 0.04 changed to 0.05
    • Work GPCI 1.045 changed to 1.049
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.221
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.261 changed to 1.277

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $51.02changed to$50.64

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 0.64 changed to 0.63

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $50.94changed to$51.02

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Work GPCI 1.048 changed to 1.045
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.271 changed to 1.261

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $50.89changed to$50.94

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Work GPCI 1.051 changed to 1.048
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.280 changed to 1.271

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $51.08changed to$50.89

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $50.82changed to$51.08

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $52.02changed to$50.82

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 0.63 changed to 0.64
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.04
    • Work GPCI 1.050 changed to 1.051
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.202 changed to 1.205
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.280

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $51.54changed to$52.02

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 0.69 changed to 0.63
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.050
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.198 changed to 1.202
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.130 changed to 1.205

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $51.54

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$49.51$27.87RVU26D
2026-07-01$49.51$27.87RVU26C
2026-04-01$49.51$27.87RVU26B
2026-01-01$49.51$27.87RVU26A
2025-10-01$48.38$29.48RVU25D
2025-07-01$48.38$29.48RVU25C
2025-04-01$48.38$29.48RVU25B
2025-01-01$48.38$29.48RVU25A
2024-10-01$49.38$30.73RVU24D
2024-07-01$49.38$30.73RVU24C
2024-04-01$49.38$30.73RVU24B
2024-03-09$49.38$30.73RVU24AR
2024-01-01$48.57$30.23RVU24A
2023-10-01$49.22$30.71RVU23D
2023-07-01$49.22$30.71RVU23C
2023-04-01$49.22$30.71RVU23B
2023-01-01$49.22$30.71RVU23A
2022-10-01$49.55$31.58RVU22D
2022-07-01$49.55$31.58RVU22C
2022-04-01$49.55$31.58RVU22B
2022-01-01$49.55$31.58RVU22A
2021-10-01$49.96$31.85RVU21D
2021-07-01$49.96$31.85RVU21C
2021-04-01$49.96$31.85RVU21B
2021-01-01$49.96$31.85RVU21A
2020-10-01$50.76$33.14RVU20D
2020-07-01$50.76$33.14RVU20C
2020-04-01$50.76$33.14RVU20B
2020-01-01$50.76$33.14RVU20A
2019-10-01$50.64$32.40RVU19D
2019-07-01$50.64$32.40RVU19C
2019-04-01$50.64$32.40RVU19B
2019-01-01$50.64$32.40RVU19A
2018-10-01$51.02$32.80RVU18D
2018-07-01$51.02$32.80RVU18C
2018-04-01$51.02$32.80RVU18B
2018-01-01$51.02$32.80RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$50.94$32.78RVU17D
2017-07-01$50.94$32.78RVU17C
2017-04-01$50.94$32.78RVU17B
2017-01-01$50.94$32.78RVU17A
2016-10-01$50.89$32.77RVU16D
2016-07-01$50.89$32.77RVU16C
2016-04-01$50.89$32.77RVU16B
2016-01-01$50.89$32.77RVU16A
2015-10-01$51.08$32.89RVU15D
2015-07-01$51.08$32.89RVU15C
2015-04-01$50.82$32.73RVU15B
2015-01-01$50.82$32.73RVU15A
2014-10-01$52.02$34.37RVU14D
2014-07-01$52.02$34.37RVU14C
2014-04-01$52.02$34.37RVU14B
2014-01-01$52.02$34.37RVU14A
2013-10-01$51.54$32.79RVU13D
2013-07-01$51.54$32.79RVU13C
2013-04-01$51.54$32.79RVU13B
2013-01-01$51.54$32.79RVU13AR

Price 29440 for an earlier date of service

Where the Washington, DC area rate applies

Washington, DC area is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1 cities and communities in District of Columbia. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Washington

Browse all communities in District of Columbia

29440 billing questions

How is 29440 different from applying a walking cast?

29440 adds a walking support to a cast that is already in place. Use the applicable cast-application code when the service is applying a new walking cast.

What should the record show?

Document the existing cast, the walking support added, the treated side, and why the cast was modified for weight bearing.

Does the 0-day global period include same-day care?

Yes. Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included in the service.

How is modifier 50 handled for bilateral service?

CMS pays a bilateral service reported with modifier 50 at 150%.

What happens when other procedures are performed in the same session?

The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are paid at 50%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for 29440, and co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

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
RVUs for 29440PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,294 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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