CPT code 29581: Compression wrap, below knee, including foot2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington
Report this service when a clinician applies a multilayer compression system to treat conditions such as venous edema or a lower-leg ulcer.
Medicare pays $87.04–$98.83 for 29581 in the office in Washington, from Rest of Washington to King County, WA. 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 29581 covers
A clinician applies a multilayer compression system to a leg from the foot and ankle to below the knee. It is commonly used in outpatient wound care for venous stasis ulcers, chronic venous insufficiency, and edema or lymphedema requiring compression. The treated area and the compression system applied distinguish this service from localized strapping or a splint.
Report one service for each treated leg, documenting the condition, side, area treated, and application. The code has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. If other procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others are subject to a 50% reduction. For bilateral treatment, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. An assistant is paid only when medical necessity is documented; 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 29581 pays more and less in Washington
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| King County, WA | $98.83 | $24.65 |
| Rest of Washington | $87.04 | $23.38 |
How the 29581 rate is calculated
Each of 29581’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 · 29581
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.59
0.59 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense1.90
1.90 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.01
0.01 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
2.5000
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$83.50
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 29581
The CMS indicators that decide how 29581 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 29581
Compression wrap, below knee, including foot
| 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) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| 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
29581 without 50 · national office
$83.50
Compression wrap, below knee, including foot
29581-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$125.25
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).
29581 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
29581 vs 29580 vs 29584: Medicare rates
How to choose
- 29580Unna bootZinc oxide compression wrap
- Choose 29581 for a multilayer compression system applied to the lower leg, ankle, and foot. 29580 describes Unna boot strapping.
- 29584Compression applicationUpper arm through hand
- 29581 treats the leg; 29584 is the related multilayer compression service for an upper-arm site.
29581 billing questions
How does 29581 differ from 29580?
29581 is for a multilayer compression system on the lower leg, including the ankle and foot. 29580 is for Unna boot strapping.
Can 29581 be reported for both legs?
Yes. Document treatment of both legs and report modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
What documentation supports 29581?
Record the diagnosis or clinical condition being treated, the leg and area treated, and application of the multilayer compression system.
Does 29581 have a postoperative global period?
It has a 0-day global period. Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included.
Can an assistant or another surgeon be paid with 29581?
Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity. 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
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