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

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 Tennessee, Medicare pays $41.16 for 29440 in the office and $24.46 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$41.16Office (non-facility)
$24.46Hospital or facility
−6.6%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 Tennessee
  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 Tennessee 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. Tennessee pays $41.16. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

29440 in Tennessee vs other payment areas
  1. Tennessee · this page$41.16
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$48.63+$7.47
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$49.51+$8.35
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$47.61+$6.45
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$46.50+$5.34
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$50.11+$8.95
  7. Alaska · Alaska$54.23+$13.07

Other areas in Tennessee first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

29440 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$40.40$24.33
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

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 Tennessee 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

95

Locality
Tennessee
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.909
Malpractice
0.537
Office calculation for 29440 in Tennessee
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.56× 1.0000.5600
Practice expense0.71× 0.9090.6454
Malpractice0.05× 0.5370.0269
Total RVUs1.2322
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Tennessee$41.16

Office: (0.56 × 1 + 0.71 × 0.909 + 0.05 × 0.537) × $33.4009 = $41.16

Facility: (0.56 × 1 + 0.16 × 0.909 + 0.05 × 0.537) × $33.4009 = $24.46

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, Tennessee
Used instead
29405Short leg cast, nonwalking castApplies a short leg cast; 29440 modifies a cast already applied.$80.61
29425Walking cast, short legApplies a short leg walking cast rather than adding a walker to an existing cast.$74.73
29435PTB cast, below kneeApplies a patellar tendon-bearing cast, a different cast service.$127.12

How 29440 has changed in Tennessee

29440 · Office / nonfacility

$41.16

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $1.44 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $39.72 to $41.16 (3.6%).

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

    $39.72changed to$41.16

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.57 changed to 0.56
    • Malpractice RVU 0.04 changed to 0.05
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.896 changed to 0.909
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.544 changed to 0.537

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $40.46changed to$39.72

    • 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

    $39.80changed to$40.46

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $40.01changed to$39.80

    • 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
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.894 changed to 0.896
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.518 changed to 0.544

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $39.72changed to$40.01

    • 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
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.892 changed to 0.894
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.492 changed to 0.518

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $40.04changed to$39.72

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $41.24changed to$40.04

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 0.61 changed to 0.62
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.897 changed to 0.892
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.509 changed to 0.492

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $41.76changed to$41.24

    • 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
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.901 changed to 0.897
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.526 changed to 0.509

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $42.04changed to$41.76

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

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. April 1, 2018

    RVU18B

    No ratechanged to$42.04

    Held through RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D, RVU14A, RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D, RVU15A, RVU15B, RVU15C, RVU15D, RVU16A, RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D, RVU17A, RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D, RVU18AR1.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$41.16$24.46RVU26D
2026-07-01$41.16$24.46RVU26C
2026-04-01$41.16$24.46RVU26B
2026-01-01$41.16$24.46RVU26A
2025-10-01$39.72$25.52RVU25D
2025-07-01$39.72$25.52RVU25C
2025-04-01$39.72$25.52RVU25B
2025-01-01$39.72$25.52RVU25A
2024-10-01$40.46$26.44RVU24D
2024-07-01$40.46$26.44RVU24C
2024-04-01$40.46$26.44RVU24B
2024-03-09$40.46$26.44RVU24AR
2024-01-01$39.80$26.01RVU24A
2023-10-01$40.01$26.38RVU23D
2023-07-01$40.01$26.38RVU23C
2023-04-01$40.01$26.38RVU23B
2023-01-01$40.01$26.38RVU23A
2022-10-01$39.72$26.75RVU22D
2022-07-01$39.72$26.75RVU22C
2022-04-01$39.72$26.75RVU22B
2022-01-01$39.72$26.75RVU22A
2021-10-01$40.04$26.97RVU21D
2021-07-01$40.04$26.97RVU21C
2021-04-01$40.04$26.97RVU21B
2021-01-01$40.04$26.97RVU21A
2020-10-01$41.24$28.29RVU20D
2020-07-01$41.24$28.29RVU20C
2020-04-01$41.24$28.29RVU20B
2020-01-01$41.24$28.29RVU20A
2019-10-01$41.76$28.12RVU19D
2019-07-01$41.76$28.12RVU19C
2019-04-01$41.76$28.12RVU19B
2019-01-01$41.76$28.12RVU19A
2018-10-01$42.04$28.41RVU18D
2018-07-01$42.04$28.41RVU18C
2018-04-01$42.04$28.41RVU18B
2018-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU18AR1
2017-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17D
2017-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17C
2017-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17B
2017-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17A
2016-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16D
2016-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16C
2016-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16B
2016-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16A
2015-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15D
2015-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15C
2015-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15B
2015-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15A
2014-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14D
2014-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14C
2014-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14B
2014-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14A
2013-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price 29440 for an earlier date of service

Where the Tennessee rate applies

Tennessee is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 504 cities and communities in Tennessee. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Adams
  • Adamsville
  • Alamo
  • Alcoa
  • Alexandria
  • Algood
  • Allardt
  • Altamont

Browse all communities in Tennessee

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 TennesseeGPCI2026.csv, line 95 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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