FeeBase
Log inGet started
Menu

CPT code 29515: Splint application, short leg2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Chicago, IL

Report short leg splint application when a clinician immobilizes the lower leg, ankle, or foot, commonly for an acute injury requiring support.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality34.9K Medicare services in 2024

In Chicago, IL, Medicare pays $88.13 for 29515 in the office and $55.23 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$88.13Office (non-facility)
$55.23Hospital or facility
+6.8%vs the national office rate ($82.50)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 29515 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 29515 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Chicago, IL
  2. What 29515 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 29515 covers

A clinician applies a short leg splint to immobilize the lower leg, ankle, or foot. In urgent care and emergency settings, it is commonly used for an acute ankle or foot injury when temporary immobilization is needed. The splint may also protect an injured area while the patient awaits further evaluation or definitive treatment. The application is distinct from strapping, which provides support without the same splint immobilization.

Report the service when the clinician applies the short leg splint and the documentation supports the affected site and need for immobilization. When splint application is part of definitive fracture treatment, it is included in that treatment rather than separately reported. This minor procedure has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. If 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%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted; 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 Chicago, IL compares for 29515

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 29515 runs from $72.83 in Arkansas to $107.46 in San Benito County, CA. Chicago, IL pays $88.13. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

29515 in Chicago, IL vs other payment areas
  1. Chicago, IL · this page$88.13
  2. East St. Louis, IL · Illinois$82.18−$5.95
  3. Rest of Illinois · Illinois$79.99−$8.14
  4. Suburban Chicago, IL · Illinois$87.24−$0.89
  5. Los Angeles, CA · California$92.15+$4.02
  6. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$93.98+$5.85
  7. Miami, FL · Florida$90.87+$2.74

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

Every other payment area

29515 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Manhattan, NYNew York$95.24$57.21
AlaskaAlaska$96.12$61.26
AlabamaAlabama$73.91$45.27
ArkansasArkansas$72.83$44.72
ArizonaArizona$80.22$48.51
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$86.64$50.77
Chico, CACalifornia$86.30$50.43
El Centro, CACalifornia$86.32$50.45

29515 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.

$72.83

$96.88

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

View every state and territory as a table
29515 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$96.121
AL$73.911
AR$72.831
AZ$80.221
CA$86.30–$107.4629
CO$85.411
CT$88.031
DC$93.981
DE$81.561
FL$82.11–$90.873
GA$77.35–$84.252
GU$88.321
HI$88.321
IA$75.431
ID$76.011
IL$79.99–$88.134
IN$76.441
KS$75.251
KY$76.081
LA$76.03–$79.812
MA$84.97–$93.662
MD$83.07–$93.983
ME$76.60–$80.532
MI$78.25–$83.332
MN$81.271
MO$74.84–$79.883
MS$73.841
MT$82.491
NC$77.381
ND$80.121
NE$75.791
NH$84.251
NJ$88.88–$93.032
NM$78.761
NV$81.891
NY$78.57–$97.815
OH$77.771
OK$75.751
OR$81.09–$87.932
PA$77.79–$85.952
PR$83.041
RI$84.331
SC$77.741
SD$79.841
TN$75.661
TX$77.29–$85.278
UT$78.801
VA$80.39–$93.982
VI$83.041
VT$79.971
WA$84.75–$95.392
WI$77.431
WV$77.051
WY$81.461

See 29515 in every payment locality

How the 29515 rate is calculated

Each of 29515’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 · 29515

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.71

0.71 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense1.64

1.64 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.12

0.12 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

2.4700

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$82.50

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

The exact Chicago, IL inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

3,298

Code
29515
Physician work
0.71
Practice expense
1.64
Malpractice
0.12

GPCI2026.csv

48

Locality
Chicago, IL
Physician work
1.007
Practice expense
1.005
Malpractice
2.295
Office calculation for 29515 in Chicago, IL
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.71× 1.0070.7150
Practice expense1.64× 1.0051.6482
Malpractice0.12× 2.2950.2754
Total RVUs2.6386
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Chicago, IL$88.13

Office: (0.71 × 1.007 + 1.64 × 1.005 + 0.12 × 2.295) × $33.4009 = $88.13

Facility: (0.71 × 1.007 + 0.66 × 1.005 + 0.12 × 2.295) × $33.4009 = $55.23

Open 29515 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 29515

The CMS indicators that decide how 29515 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 29515

Splint application, short leg

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

29515 without 50 · national office

$82.50

Splint application, short leg

29515-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$123.75

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 29515

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

Codes related to 29515
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Chicago, IL
Same family
29505Splint application, long legLong leg splint application; selected when immobilization extends above the knee.$115.75
Used instead
29540Ankle/foot strapping, supportive tape applicationAnkle or foot strapping provides support without short leg splint immobilization.$29.52
Often billed with
73610Ankle X-ray, complete, at least three viewsAnkle radiographs may be obtained during the same encounter for an acute ankle injury.$38.13

How 29515 has changed in Chicago, IL

29515 · Office / nonfacility

$88.13

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $9.86 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $78.27 to $88.13 (12.6%).

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

    $78.27changed to$88.13

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.73 changed to 0.71
    • Practice expense RVU 1.41 changed to 1.64
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.023 changed to 1.005
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.018 changed to 2.295

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $78.51changed to$78.27

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 1.37 changed to 1.41
    • Malpractice RVU 0.11 changed to 0.12

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $77.23changed to$78.51

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $78.07changed to$77.23

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 1.31 changed to 1.37
    • Work GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.007
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.033 changed to 1.023
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.945 changed to 2.018

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $77.46changed to$78.07

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 1.24 changed to 1.31
    • Work GPCI 1.011 changed to 1.009
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.044 changed to 1.033
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.871 changed to 1.945

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $77.38changed to$77.46

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 1.22 changed to 1.24

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $77.99changed to$77.38

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 1.17 changed to 1.22
    • Work GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.011
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.039 changed to 1.044
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.898 changed to 1.871

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $77.85changed to$77.99

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 1.21 changed to 1.17
    • Malpractice RVU 0.09 changed to 0.11
    • Work GPCI 1.008 changed to 1.009
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.034 changed to 1.039
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.925 changed to 1.898

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $78.88changed to$77.85

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 1.24 changed to 1.21

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $78.99changed to$78.88

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Work GPCI 1.012 changed to 1.008
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.036 changed to 1.034
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.972 changed to 1.925

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $78.73changed to$78.99

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 1.23 changed to 1.24
    • Work GPCI 1.016 changed to 1.012
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.037 changed to 1.036
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.019 changed to 1.972

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $79.01changed to$78.73

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $78.62changed to$79.01

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $79.34changed to$78.62

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 1.21 changed to 1.23
    • Malpractice RVU 0.10 changed to 0.09
    • Work GPCI 1.023 changed to 1.016
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.044 changed to 1.037
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.048 changed to 2.019

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $80.92changed to$79.34

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 1.35 changed to 1.21
    • Work GPCI 1.030 changed to 1.023
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.051 changed to 1.044
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.077 changed to 2.048

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. October 1, 2013

    RVU13D

    No ratechanged to$80.92

  17. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$88.13$55.23RVU26D
2026-07-01$88.13$55.23RVU26C
2026-04-01$88.13$55.23RVU26B
2026-01-01$88.13$55.23RVU26A
2025-10-01$78.27$53.78RVU25D
2025-07-01$78.27$53.78RVU25C
2025-04-01$78.27$53.78RVU25B
2025-01-01$78.27$53.78RVU25A
2024-10-01$78.51$54.33RVU24D
2024-07-01$78.51$54.33RVU24C
2024-04-01$78.51$54.33RVU24B
2024-03-09$78.51$54.33RVU24AR
2024-01-01$77.23$53.45RVU24A
2023-10-01$78.07$54.26RVU23D
2023-07-01$78.07$54.26RVU23C
2023-04-01$78.07$54.26RVU23B
2023-01-01$78.07$54.26RVU23A
2022-10-01$77.46$54.34RVU22D
2022-07-01$77.46$54.34RVU22C
2022-04-01$77.46$54.34RVU22B
2022-01-01$77.46$54.34RVU22A
2021-10-01$77.38$54.43RVU21D
2021-07-01$77.38$54.43RVU21C
2021-04-01$77.38$54.43RVU21B
2021-01-01$77.38$54.43RVU21A
2020-10-01$77.99$55.87RVU20D
2020-07-01$77.99$55.87RVU20C
2020-04-01$77.99$55.87RVU20B
2020-01-01$77.99$55.87RVU20A
2019-10-01$77.85$55.12RVU19D
2019-07-01$77.85$55.12RVU19C
2019-04-01$77.85$55.12RVU19B
2019-01-01$77.85$55.12RVU19A
2018-10-01$78.88$55.43RVU18D
2018-07-01$78.88$55.43RVU18C
2018-04-01$78.88$55.43RVU18B
2018-01-01$78.88$55.43RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$78.99$55.56RVU17D
2017-07-01$78.99$55.56RVU17C
2017-04-01$78.99$55.56RVU17B
2017-01-01$78.99$55.56RVU17A
2016-10-01$78.73$55.34RVU16D
2016-07-01$78.73$55.34RVU16C
2016-04-01$78.73$55.34RVU16B
2016-01-01$78.73$55.34RVU16A
2015-10-01$79.01$55.54RVU15D
2015-07-01$79.01$55.54RVU15C
2015-04-01$78.62$55.26RVU15B
2015-01-01$78.62$55.26RVU15A
2014-10-01$79.34$56.53RVU14D
2014-07-01$79.34$56.53RVU14C
2014-04-01$79.34$56.53RVU14B
2014-01-01$79.34$56.53RVU14A
2013-10-01$80.92$56.25RVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price 29515 for an earlier date of service

Where the Chicago, IL rate applies

Chicago, IL is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 137 cities and communities in Illinois. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

Browse all communities in Illinois

29515 billing questions

How is a short leg splint different from a long leg splint?

CPT 29515 is for a splint that supports the lower leg, ankle, or foot. Use 29505 when the splint extends above the knee.

Can I report 29515 with a fracture treatment code?

When the splint application is part of definitive fracture treatment, it is included in the fracture treatment service and is not separately reported.

Can an E/M service be billed on the same date?

A separately identifiable E/M service may be reported when supported by the documentation. Same-day preoperative and postoperative care for the splint application is included in its 0-day global period.

What modifier is used when splints are applied to both legs?

Use modifier 50 for bilateral application when the service is performed on both sides. CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.

How does Medicare apply multiple procedure reduction?

When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the other procedures are paid at 50%.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported for this service?

Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted for this code. 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 29515PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,298 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Chicago, ILGPCI2026.csv, line 48 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

Did this answer your question about what 29515 pays in Chicago, IL?

Tell us what you were actually trying to work out. We’ll answer you directly, or build the page that does.

Fee sheets · Coming soon

Put 29515 and the rest of your codes on one sheet

Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.

Join the waitlist