CPT code 29875: Knee synovectomy, limited arthroscopic excision2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Missouri
Reports arthroscopic removal of a limited amount of inflamed or abnormal knee synovium, such as a symptomatic plica, as a therapeutic procedure.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 29875 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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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 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 | $459.84 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MO | Unavailable | $463.80 |
| Rest of Missouri | Unavailable | $442.73 |
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.
How the rate is built · 29875
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work6.29
6.29 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense6.60
6.60 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.31
1.31 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
14.2000
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$474.29
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 29875
29875 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 29875
Knee synovectomy, limited arthroscopic excision
| 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) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| 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 · 29875
Knee synovectomy, limited arthroscopic excision
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
29875 without 50 · national facility
$474.29
Knee synovectomy, limited arthroscopic excision
29875-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$711.44
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).
29875 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
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.
29875 billing questions
How do I distinguish this from 29876?
This code is for a limited synovectomy. Use 29876 when the surgeon performs a major synovectomy involving two or more compartments.
Can it be reported with another knee arthroscopy code?
Because it is a separate procedure, do not report it separately when the synovectomy is part of a more extensive arthroscopic service at the same site. The operative report should establish a distinct, therapeutic limited synovectomy.
Can diagnostic arthroscopy also be reported?
A diagnostic inspection is generally included when the surgeon proceeds to a surgical arthroscopy. This code represents therapeutic synovial removal, not diagnostic inspection alone.
What documentation supports the limited procedure?
Document the abnormal synovial tissue treated, the therapeutic removal performed, and the operative extent. The record should support a limited rather than major synovectomy.
How are bilateral procedures and assistants handled?
Modifier 50 identifies a bilateral procedure, which CMS pays at 150%. An assistant at surgery is paid only with documentation of medical necessity.
What global and surgical-team rules apply?
The 90-day global includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. CMS does not permit co-surgeons or team surgery for this code.
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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