CPT code 29898: Ankle arthroscopy, extensive debridement2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California

CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 29898 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 29898 covers

An orthopedic surgeon uses an arthroscope and instruments through small incisions to remove or smooth abnormal tissue inside the ankle joint. The work may address extensive synovial tissue, scar tissue, or damaged cartilage, including tissue contributing to impingement or restricted motion. This procedure is commonly performed in an operating room for symptomatic ankle-joint disease or injury when arthroscopic treatment is appropriate.

Select this code when the operative report supports extensive debridement; limited cleanup is reported with the limited-debridement code instead. Document the structures treated and the extent of work, not merely that debridement occurred. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; co-surgeon payment requires 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 29898 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 29898 rate is calculated

Each of 29898’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 29898

29898 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

29898 compared with similar codes

How to choose

29897Ankle arthroscopyLimited debridement

29897 describes limited ankle-joint debridement. Use 29898 when the operative report supports extensive debridement.

29894Ankle arthroscopyLoose or foreign body removal

29894 describes arthroscopic removal of a loose or foreign body. This code describes extensive debridement rather than removal alone.

29895Ankle arthroscopyPartial synovectomy

29895 is for partial synovectomy. Choose 29898 for extensive debridement rather than synovial removal alone.

29891Ankle arthroscopyTalus or tibia lesion

29891 addresses excision of an ankle osteochondral defect, including drilling. It is more specific than general extensive joint debridement.

Codes related to 29898

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