CPT code 29806: Shoulder stabilization, arthroscopic capsulorrhaphy2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Maine
Reports arthroscopic tightening and repair of the shoulder capsule to stabilize an unstable joint, commonly after recurrent dislocations or subluxations.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 29806 in Maine.
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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What 29806 covers
An orthopedic surgeon performs this shoulder arthroscopy to tighten or repair capsular tissue and stabilize a loose joint. A common indication is recurrent shoulder instability, including an anterior Bankart-type injury in which the capsulolabral tissue has detached. The surgeon works through arthroscopic portals, typically in an outpatient hospital or ambulatory surgery center, and may use anchors to secure tissue to the glenoid.
Select this code when the operative work is arthroscopic capsular stabilization; an open repair is coded differently. The operative report should establish the instability or capsular injury and describe the arthroscopic repair or tightening performed. Diagnostic inspection of the same shoulder is part of the surgical arthroscopy. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When related endoscopies are performed together, endoscopy family pricing applies. For bilateral reporting with modifier 50, CMS pays at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is barred by statutory restriction; co-surgeons are paid only with supporting documentation, and team surgery is 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 29806 pays more and less in Maine
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rest of Maine | Unavailable | $904.51 |
| Southern Maine, ME | Unavailable | $932.34 |
How the 29806 rate is calculated
Each of 29806’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 · 29806
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work14.76
14.76 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense11.35
11.35 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice3.02
3.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
29.1300
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$972.97
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 29806
29806 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 29806
Shoulder stabilization, arthroscopic capsulorrhaphy
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included. |
| Multiple procedures | 3 | Endoscopy family rules apply. |
| 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) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.69/0.21 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 29806
Shoulder stabilization, arthroscopic capsulorrhaphy
90-day global period ends
Dec 30, 2026
Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
29806 without 50 · national facility
$972.97
Shoulder stabilization, arthroscopic capsulorrhaphy
29806-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,459.46
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).
29806 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 29807Shoulder arthroscopySuperior labrum repair
- This code treats capsular instability; 29807 treats a superior labral lesion. Base the choice on the pathology repaired and the documented operative work.
- 29805Shoulder arthroscopyDiagnostic examination
- 29805 is diagnostic shoulder arthroscopy. When surgical capsular stabilization is performed on that shoulder, diagnostic inspection is included in the surgical arthroscopy.
- 23455Shoulder stabilizationAnterior repair with labrum
- This code is for arthroscopic capsular stabilization. Use 23455 when the surgeon performs the corresponding anterior capsulorrhaphy with labral repair through an open approach.
- 29827Rotator cuff repairArthroscopic technique
- 29827 repairs a rotator cuff tear arthroscopically; this code stabilizes the shoulder capsule. A separate cuff repair may be performed during the same session.
29806 billing questions
When should this be chosen instead of 29807?
Choose 29806 for arthroscopic capsular stabilization addressing shoulder instability. Code 29807 addresses repair of a superior labral lesion, such as a SLAP lesion.
Can diagnostic shoulder arthroscopy be reported separately?
Diagnostic inspection of the same shoulder is included in the surgical arthroscopy and is not separately reported with this repair.
How is bilateral surgery reported?
CMS identifies this as a bilateral procedure: report modifier 50 when both shoulders are treated, and payment is at 150%.
Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be paid?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is barred by statutory restriction. Co-surgeons are paid only with supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.
What documentation supports this code?
Document the shoulder instability or capsular injury and the arthroscopic steps used to tighten or repair the capsule. The operative report should distinguish this work from treatment of a separate labral or rotator cuff condition.
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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