CPT code 29828: Biceps tenodesis, arthroscopic shoulder2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Missouri
Reports arthroscopic fixation of the long-head biceps tendon at the shoulder for symptomatic tendon or biceps-anchor pathology treated surgically.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 29828 in Missouri.
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 29828 covers
The surgeon uses a shoulder arthroscope to release the long-head biceps tendon from its attachment and secure it at another location, commonly on the proximal humerus. Orthopedic surgeons perform this procedure in an operating room or other surgical setting for problems such as symptomatic biceps tendon disease or biceps-anchor pathology. The operative report should identify the tendon work and fixation performed, rather than only noting that the biceps was inspected or debrided.
Report the code when arthroscopic tenodesis is performed; document the indication, operative findings, technique, and shoulder side. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, which includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. For related endoscopies performed together, CMS endoscopy-family pricing applies. A bilateral procedure with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team-surgery payment 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 29828 pays more and less in Missouri
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Kansas City, MO | Unavailable | $821.66 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MO | Unavailable | $828.09 |
| Rest of Missouri | Unavailable | $796.06 |
How the 29828 rate is calculated
Each of 29828’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 · 29828
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work12.83
12.83 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense9.85
9.85 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice2.58
2.58 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
25.2600
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$843.71
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 29828
29828 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 29828
Biceps tenodesis, arthroscopic shoulder
| 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) | 2 | Paid. |
| 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 · 29828
Biceps tenodesis, arthroscopic shoulder
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
29828 without 50 · national facility
$843.71
Biceps tenodesis, arthroscopic shoulder
29828-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,265.57
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).
29828 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 29807Shoulder arthroscopySuperior labrum repair
- Use 29807 for arthroscopic repair of a superior labral lesion. Use 29828 when the long-head biceps tendon is released and fixed at another site.
- 29827Rotator cuff repairArthroscopic technique
- 29827 describes arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. It may accompany 29828 when the surgeon also performs and documents biceps tenodesis.
- 23430Biceps surgeryOpen tendon fixation
- Both codes describe biceps tenodesis, but 23430 is for an open approach; 29828 describes arthroscopic shoulder treatment.
- 29826Shoulder decompressionSubacromial space
- 29826 is an add-on for qualifying arthroscopic subacromial decompression, not a code for biceps tendon fixation.
29828 billing questions
How is this different from arthroscopic SLAP repair?
29828 moves and fixes the long-head biceps tendon. 29807 repairs a superior labral lesion, so the operative work and documented treatment determine which code describes the procedure.
Can this be reported with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair?
29828 may be performed during the same shoulder operation as 29827 when both procedures are actually performed and documented. CMS endoscopy-family pricing applies when related endoscopies are performed together.
How should bilateral treatment be reported?
For a bilateral procedure, report modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during the 90 days after surgery.
What documentation supports reporting this code?
Document the biceps tendon pathology, arthroscopic release and fixation, operative findings, and side. A note describing only inspection or debridement does not establish that tenodesis was performed.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; CMS does not permit team-surgery payment.
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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