CPT code 29550: Toe strapping, toe support2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
Toe strapping applies supportive tape to one or more toes, commonly to stabilize an injured or misaligned toe during conservative treatment.
Medicare pays $18.82–$20.35 for 29550 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.
Your location
On this page 9 sections
What 29550 covers
A clinician applies supportive tape to one or more toes to limit motion or help maintain alignment. A common use is buddy taping an injured toe to an adjacent toe. Podiatrists, orthopedic clinicians, and urgent care providers may perform the service in an office or other treatment setting when conservative support is appropriate.
Report this service for toe strapping, not for strapping that primarily supports the ankle or broader foot. Documentation should identify the treated toe or toes, the clinical reason for support, and the application performed. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery services are statutorily unpaid; 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 29550 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
$18.82 to $20.35
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $20.35 | $10.61 |
| East St. Louis, IL | $19.19 | $10.28 |
| Rest of Illinois | $18.82 | $9.98 |
| Suburban Chicago, IL | $20.23 | $10.29 |
How the 29550 rate is calculated
Each of 29550’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 · 29550
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.24
0.24 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense0.32
0.32 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.02
0.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
0.5800
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$19.37
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 29550
The CMS indicators that decide how 29550 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 29550
Toe strapping, toe support
| 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
29550 without 50 · national office
$19.37
Toe strapping, toe support
29550-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$29.06
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).
29550 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 29540Ankle/foot strappingSupportive tape application
- Choose 29550 for strapping directed to the toes. Choose 29540 when the ankle or broader foot is the area being strapped.
- 29515Splint applicationShort leg
- 29515 describes application of a short-leg splint. It is a different service when the treatment calls for splint support rather than toe strapping.
- 29505Splint applicationLong leg
- 29505 describes application of a long-leg splint, not supportive taping of the toes.
29550 billing questions
When should toe strapping be reported instead of ankle or foot strapping?
Use 29550 when the tape supports one or more toes. Use 29540 when the strapping is directed to the ankle or broader foot.
Is same-day evaluation or follow-up care included?
The code has a 0-day global period, and same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included.
How is bilateral toe strapping reported?
CMS identifies this as a bilateral procedure; modifier 50 is paid at 150%.
What documentation supports reporting the service?
Document the toe or toes treated, the reason for support, and the strapping application. The record should make clear that support was applied to the toes rather than the ankle or broader foot.
Can an assistant, co-surgeon, or surgical team be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery services are statutorily restricted from payment 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
Fee sheets · Coming soon
Put 29550 and the rest of your codes on one sheet
Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.
Join the waitlist