CPT code 29875: Knee synovectomy, limited arthroscopic excision2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $474.29 for 29875 nationally in a facility.

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

What 29875 covers

The surgeon uses a knee arthroscope and instruments through small incisions to remove a limited area of inflamed or abnormal synovial tissue. A typical indication is a symptomatic plica that is treated by arthroscopic excision. Orthopedic surgeons most often perform the procedure in an outpatient operating room or ambulatory surgery center; hospital outpatient settings are also common. This is a therapeutic removal of synovium, not simply inspection of the joint or a biopsy taken during diagnostic arthroscopy.

Choose this code for a limited synovectomy; the extent and work documented should distinguish it from major synovectomy involving two or more compartments. As a designated separate procedure, it should not be separately reported when the synovectomy is part of a more extensive arthroscopic service at the same site. The major-surgery global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When related endoscopies are performed together, endoscopy-family pricing applies. For bilateral procedures, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. An assistant is paid only when medical necessity is documented; 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 29875 pays more and less

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

109 of 109 payment localities

29875 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

How the 29875 rate is calculated

Each of 29875’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 29875

29875 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

29875 compared with similar codes

How to choose

29876Knee synovectomyTwo or more compartments

29875 describes limited synovial removal; 29876 is for major synovectomy involving two or more compartments.

29870Knee arthroscopyDiagnostic, with or without biopsy

29870 is diagnostic inspection, with or without synovial biopsy. Choose 29875 when the surgeon therapeutically removes a limited amount of synovium.

29871Knee arthroscopyInfection lavage and drainage

29871 is directed at arthroscopic treatment of knee infection. 29875 describes limited synovectomy, such as removal of a symptomatic plica.

29884Knee arthroscopyAdhesion release

29884 addresses lysis of knee adhesions. Choose 29875 when the operative target is abnormal synovial tissue rather than adhesions.

Codes related to 29875

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