CPT code 29873: Knee arthroscopy, arthroscopic lateral release2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Guam
Arthroscopic lateral release treats patellar maltracking or lateral compression by dividing tight lateral retinacular tissue during knee surgery.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 29873 in Guam.
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 29873 covers
This procedure uses a knee arthroscope and instruments to release tight tissue along the outer side of the patella, reducing lateral restraint when patellar tracking or tilt is the surgical problem. Orthopedic surgeons perform it in an operating room, commonly for symptomatic patellar maltracking or lateral compression. The operative report should identify the lateral retinacular release rather than only diagnostic inspection or work on cartilage, synovium, or meniscus.
Report the arthroscopic release actually performed, supported by the indication, laterality, arthroscopic findings, and operative description. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. If related endoscopies are performed together, endoscopy-family pricing applies. For bilateral reporting, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery; 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.
29873 in Hawaii, Guam, HI
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii, Guam, HI | Unavailable | $541.13 |
How the 29873 rate is calculated
Each of 29873’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 · 29873
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work6.08
6.08 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense8.26
8.26 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.26
1.26 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
15.6000
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$521.05
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 29873
29873 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 29873
Knee arthroscopy, arthroscopic lateral release
| 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 · 29873
Knee arthroscopy, arthroscopic lateral release
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
29873 without 50 · national facility
$521.05
Knee arthroscopy, arthroscopic lateral release
29873-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$781.58
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).
29873 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 27425Patellar releaseOpen lateral retinacular release
- Use 29873 for an arthroscopic lateral release and 27425 when the release is performed through an open approach.
- 29870Knee arthroscopyDiagnostic, with or without biopsy
- 29870 describes diagnostic knee arthroscopy. Use 29873 when the surgeon performs a therapeutic lateral retinacular release.
- 29875Knee synovectomyLimited arthroscopic excision
- 29875 addresses limited synovial tissue removal; 29873 addresses release of lateral retinacular tissue to treat patellar restraint or tracking.
- 29877Knee chondroplastyArthroscopic cartilage smoothing
- 29877 describes arthroscopic cartilage debridement or shaving. It does not represent a lateral retinacular release.
29873 billing questions
How does this differ from an open lateral release?
This code describes release performed arthroscopically. CPT 27425 is the open approach to lateral retinacular release.
Can it be reported with a meniscectomy or chondroplasty?
It may be reported with separately performed arthroscopic work when the operative report supports each service. CMS applies endoscopy-family pricing when related endoscopies are performed together.
What does the 90-day global period include?
The global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How is bilateral surgery reported?
For a bilateral procedure, modifier 50 is paid at 150% under the CMS rule for this code.
May an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeons are paid only with supporting documentation; team surgery is 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
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