CPT code 29884: Knee arthroscopy, adhesion release2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California
Arthroscopic knee adhesion release treats motion-limiting scar tissue, typically when postoperative stiffness requires surgical release rather than manipulation alone.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 29884 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.
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On this page 9 sections
What 29884 covers
An orthopedic surgeon uses a knee arthroscope and instruments to release adhesions that restrict joint motion, often in a patient with arthrofibrosis after prior knee surgery. The procedure may include manipulation of the knee to improve motion. It is generally performed in an operating room, with the operative report identifying the adhesions and describing their release.
Report this code when the surgeon performs arthroscopic lysis of adhesions, not for manipulation alone or routine inspection of the joint. Documentation should support the presence of adhesions, the surgical work performed, and any manipulation. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. When related endoscopies are performed together, endoscopy family pricing applies. For a bilateral procedure, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; co-surgeons require 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.
Where 29884 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
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | Unavailable | $594.70 |
| Chico, CA | Unavailable | $590.12 |
| El Centro, CA | Unavailable | $590.39 |
| Fresno, CA | Unavailable | $590.12 |
| Hanford, CA | Unavailable | $590.12 |
| Los Angeles, CA | Unavailable | $626.41 |
| Madera, CA | Unavailable | $590.12 |
| Marin County, CA | Unavailable | $688.89 |
| Merced, CA | Unavailable | $590.12 |
| Modesto, CA | Unavailable | $590.12 |
| Napa, CA | Unavailable | $658.95 |
| Oxnard, CA | Unavailable | $620.37 |
| Redding, CA | Unavailable | $590.12 |
| Rest of California | Unavailable | $590.12 |
| Riverside, CA | Unavailable | $607.96 |
| Sacramento, CA | Unavailable | $612.74 |
| Salinas, CA | Unavailable | $610.34 |
| San Benito County, CA | Unavailable | $705.56 |
| San Diego, CA | Unavailable | $620.07 |
| San Francisco, CA | Unavailable | $687.00 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | Unavailable | $601.35 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | Unavailable | $697.85 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | Unavailable | $622.28 |
| Santa Maria, CA | Unavailable | $611.36 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | Unavailable | $628.10 |
| Stockton, CA | Unavailable | $590.12 |
| Vallejo, CA | Unavailable | $656.23 |
| Visalia, CA | Unavailable | $590.12 |
| Yuba City, CA | Unavailable | $590.12 |
How the 29884 rate is calculated
Each of 29884’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 · 29884
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work8.07
8.07 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense7.82
7.82 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.66
1.66 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
17.5500
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$586.19
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 29884
29884 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 29884
Knee arthroscopy, adhesion 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) | 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 · 29884
Knee arthroscopy, adhesion 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
29884 without 50 · national facility
$586.19
Knee arthroscopy, adhesion release
29884-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$879.29
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).
29884 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 27570Knee manipulationUnder anesthesia
- This code describes arthroscopic lysis of knee adhesions, with or without manipulation. Code 27570 is for manipulation without the arthroscopic adhesion-release work.
- 29875Knee synovectomyLimited arthroscopic excision
- Use 29884 for release of adhesions restricting motion; 29875 describes limited synovectomy, removal of inflamed synovial tissue.
- 29877Knee chondroplastyArthroscopic cartilage smoothing
- Use 29884 for arthroscopic release of adhesions. Code 29877 addresses debridement or shaving of articular cartilage.
29884 billing questions
When is this code more appropriate than manipulation alone?
Use it when the surgeon arthroscopically releases adhesions restricting knee motion. Manipulation without arthroscopic lysis is a different service, represented by code 27570.
Is manipulation included when performed with the adhesion release?
Yes. Manipulation may accompany the arthroscopic release; do not separately report code 27570 for that same manipulation in the same knee session.
What should the operative report support?
Document the motion-limiting adhesions, the arthroscopic release performed, and any manipulation. The report should make clear that the surgeon treated adhesions rather than performing only diagnostic inspection or another arthroscopic procedure.
How does the 90-day global period affect postoperative care?
The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global period.
How is a bilateral procedure handled?
For bilateral performance, modifier 50 is paid at 150%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. 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
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