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CPT code 29700: Cast removal, gauntlet or boot cast2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Report this service when a gauntlet or boot cast is removed or split, such as to relieve constriction or end immobilization.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality1.5K Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $78.93 for 29700 in the office and $32.90 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$78.93Office (non-facility)
$32.90Hospital or facility
+14.2%vs the national office rate ($69.14)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 29700 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 29700 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 29700 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 29700 covers

This service covers removing or splitting a cast in the gauntlet or boot category. Bivalving means cutting the cast lengthwise so it separates into sections; removal takes the cast off. Orthopedic clinicians commonly perform the work in an office or facility when a cast needs to be opened for pressure relief or removed when immobilization is complete. Document the cast type and site, whether it was split or removed, and the clinical reason for the work.

Select this code for a gauntlet or boot cast, not a full arm or leg cast or a shoulder or hip spica. Medicare 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 other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. A bilateral adjustment is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery services are not paid, and 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 29700

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 29700 runs from $60.99 in Arkansas to $90.77 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $78.93. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

29700 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$78.93
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$77.58−$1.35
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$75.68−$3.25
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$73.40−$5.53
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$79.78+$0.85
  6. Alaska · Alaska$80.23+$1.30
  7. Alabama · Alabama$61.91−$17.02

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

Every other payment area

29700 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$60.99$27.43
ArizonaArizona$67.24$29.37
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$72.87$30.04
Chico, CACalifornia$72.62$29.79
El Centro, CACalifornia$72.63$29.80
Fresno, CACalifornia$72.62$29.79
Hanford, CACalifornia$72.62$29.79
Madera, CACalifornia$72.62$29.79

29700 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.

$60.99

$81.70

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

View every state and territory as a table
29700 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$80.231
AL$61.911
AR$60.991
AZ$67.241
CA$72.62–$90.7729
CO$71.741
CT$73.801
DC$78.931
DE$68.361
FL$68.57–$75.683
GA$64.59–$70.562
GU$74.371
HI$74.371
IA$63.301
ID$63.761
IL$66.71–$73.404
IN$64.131
KS$63.101
KY$63.621
LA$63.56–$66.752
MA$71.34–$78.782
MD$69.65–$78.933
ME$64.21–$67.602
MI$65.40–$69.542
MN$68.401
MO$62.52–$66.873
MS$61.761
MT$69.131
NC$64.881
ND$67.351
NE$63.621
NH$70.711
NJ$74.54–$78.112
NM$65.811
NV$68.691
NY$65.88–$81.885
OH$65.041
OK$63.391
OR$68.06–$73.932
PA$65.09–$72.002
PR$69.621
RI$70.741
SC$65.081
SD$67.141
TN$63.431
TX$64.66–$71.598
UT$65.991
VA$67.45–$78.932
VI$69.621
VT$67.181
WA$71.18–$80.292
WI$65.071
WV$64.221
WY$68.361

See 29700 in every payment locality

How the 29700 rate is calculated

Each of 29700’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 · 29700

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.56

0.56 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense1.42

1.42 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.09

0.09 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

2.0700

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$69.14

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

3,306

Code
29700
Physician work
0.56
Practice expense
1.42
Malpractice
0.09

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 29700 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.56× 1.0540.5902
Practice expense1.42× 1.1781.6728
Malpractice0.09× 1.1130.1002
Total RVUs2.3632
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$78.93

Office: (0.56 × 1.054 + 1.42 × 1.178 + 0.09 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $78.93

Facility: (0.56 × 1.054 + 0.25 × 1.178 + 0.09 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $32.90

Open 29700 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 29700

The CMS indicators that decide how 29700 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 29700

Cast removal, gauntlet or boot 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)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
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 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

29700 without 51 · national office

$69.14

Cast removal, gauntlet or boot cast

29700-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$34.57

When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).

When to use modifier 51

Codes related to 29700

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

Codes related to 29700
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Same family
29705Cast removal, full arm or leg castRemoval or bivalving for a full arm or leg cast rather than a gauntlet or boot cast.$78.49
29710Spica cast removal, shoulder or hipRemoval or bivalving for a shoulder or hip spica cast.$154.91
29730Cast adjustment, access openingCast windowing creates a localized opening rather than removing or splitting the cast.$75.80

How 29700 has changed in Washington, DC area

29700 · Office / nonfacility

$78.93

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $4.00 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $74.93 to $78.93 (5.3%).

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

    $74.93changed to$78.93

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.57 changed to 0.56
    • Practice expense RVU 1.34 changed to 1.42
    • Malpractice RVU 0.10 changed to 0.09
    • 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

    $74.73changed to$74.93

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 1.28 changed to 1.34

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $73.51changed to$74.73

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $73.94changed to$73.51

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 1.20 changed to 1.28
    • 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

    $74.03changed to$73.94

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 1.14 changed to 1.20
    • 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

    $74.21changed to$74.03

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 1.13 changed to 1.14

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $75.08changed to$74.21

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 1.12 changed to 1.13
    • Malpractice RVU 0.09 changed to 0.10
    • 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

    $75.91changed to$75.08

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 1.17 changed to 1.12
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.09
    • 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

    $77.56changed to$75.91

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 1.21 changed to 1.17

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $74.84changed to$77.56

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 1.14 changed to 1.21
    • Malpractice RVU 0.09 changed to 0.08
    • 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

    $74.33changed to$74.84

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 1.13 changed to 1.14
    • 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

    $72.86changed to$74.33

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 1.09 changed to 1.13

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $72.50changed to$72.86

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $72.69changed to$72.50

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Malpractice RVU 0.10 changed to 0.09
    • 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

    $78.40changed to$72.69

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 1.33 changed to 1.09
    • 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: $78.40

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$78.93$32.90RVU26D
2026-07-01$78.93$32.90RVU26C
2026-04-01$78.93$32.90RVU26B
2026-01-01$78.93$32.90RVU26A
2025-10-01$74.93$35.99RVU25D
2025-07-01$74.93$35.99RVU25C
2025-04-01$74.93$35.99RVU25B
2025-01-01$74.93$35.99RVU25A
2024-10-01$74.73$36.64RVU24D
2024-07-01$74.73$36.64RVU24C
2024-04-01$74.73$36.64RVU24B
2024-03-09$74.73$36.64RVU24AR
2024-01-01$73.51$36.04RVU24A
2023-10-01$73.94$37.32RVU23D
2023-07-01$73.94$37.32RVU23C
2023-04-01$73.94$37.32RVU23B
2023-01-01$73.94$37.32RVU23A
2022-10-01$74.03$38.10RVU22D
2022-07-01$74.03$38.10RVU22C
2022-04-01$74.03$38.10RVU22B
2022-01-01$74.03$38.10RVU22A
2021-10-01$74.21$38.42RVU21D
2021-07-01$74.21$38.42RVU21C
2021-04-01$74.21$38.42RVU21B
2021-01-01$74.21$38.42RVU21A
2020-10-01$75.08$38.95RVU20D
2020-07-01$75.08$38.95RVU20C
2020-04-01$75.08$38.95RVU20B
2020-01-01$75.08$38.95RVU20A
2019-10-01$75.91$38.56RVU19D
2019-07-01$75.91$38.56RVU19C
2019-04-01$75.91$38.56RVU19B
2019-01-01$75.91$38.56RVU19A
2018-10-01$77.56$38.96RVU18D
2018-07-01$77.56$38.96RVU18C
2018-04-01$77.56$38.96RVU18B
2018-01-01$77.56$38.96RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$74.84$38.95RVU17D
2017-07-01$74.84$38.95RVU17C
2017-04-01$74.84$38.95RVU17B
2017-01-01$74.84$38.95RVU17A
2016-10-01$74.33$38.52RVU16D
2016-07-01$74.33$38.52RVU16C
2016-04-01$74.33$38.52RVU16B
2016-01-01$74.33$38.52RVU16A
2015-10-01$72.86$38.66RVU15D
2015-07-01$72.86$38.66RVU15C
2015-04-01$72.50$38.46RVU15B
2015-01-01$72.50$38.46RVU15A
2014-10-01$72.69$38.67RVU14D
2014-07-01$72.69$38.67RVU14C
2014-04-01$72.69$38.67RVU14B
2014-01-01$72.69$38.67RVU14A
2013-10-01$78.40$37.64RVU13D
2013-07-01$78.40$37.64RVU13C
2013-04-01$78.40$37.64RVU13B
2013-01-01$78.40$37.64RVU13AR

Price 29700 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

29700 billing questions

How is this different from 29705?

29700 is for a gauntlet or boot cast. Use 29705 for removal or bivalving of a full arm or leg cast.

When is bivalving reported instead of removal?

Report bivalving when the cast is split lengthwise but remains on the patient; report removal when the cast is taken off. Document which service was performed and why.

Can the service be reported with a replacement cast?

The code covers removal or bivalving, not application of a new cast. Document each service performed and apply the multiple procedure reduction when multiple procedures occur in the same session.

Should modifier 50 be appended for casts on both sides?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code.

Is an assistant surgeon payable for this service?

No. CMS lists a statutory restriction on assistant-at-surgery payment for this code; co-surgeons and team surgery are also 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 29700PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,306 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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