CPT code 29847: Wrist arthroscopy, internal fixation for fracture or instability2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California

CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 29847 in California.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 29847 covers

A surgeon performs this procedure through wrist arthroscopy and uses internal fixation to treat a fracture or wrist instability. It may be used for selected carpal fractures, such as a scaphoid fracture, or an unstable wrist requiring fixation. These procedures are generally performed in an operating-room setting by an orthopedic or hand surgeon.

Choose the code based on the arthroscopic procedure actually performed, not the diagnosis alone. The operative report should identify the treated fracture or instability, the arthroscopic work, and the fixation used. 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. Modifier 50 is used for bilateral reporting, which CMS pays at 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; 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 29847 pays more and less in California

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

29 of 29 payment localities

How the 29847 rate is calculated

Each of 29847’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 29847

29847 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 50

29847 compared with similar codes

How to choose

29840Wrist arthroscopyDiagnostic examination

Use 29840 for diagnostic wrist arthroscopy without the fixation treatment described by 29847. Use 29847 when arthroscopic surgery includes internal fixation for fracture or instability.

29846Wrist arthroscopyTFCC treatment or joint debridement

29846 covers arthroscopic treatment involving the triangular fibrocartilage or joint debridement. 29847 is distinguished by internal fixation for a fracture or instability.

25628Scaphoid fixationOpen treatment with fixation

25628 describes open treatment with internal fixation of a scaphoid fracture. 29847 is the arthroscopic wrist procedure when internal fixation is performed for fracture or instability.

Codes related to 29847

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

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates