Billing code 29131: Splint applicationMedicare rate & RVUs
Report this service when a clinician applies a dynamic finger splint to support controlled movement during care of a finger injury or condition.
Medicare pays $59.45 for 29131 nationally in the office and $31.06 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $52.69–$77.32.
Medicare rate · 29131
Splint application
- Work RVUs
- 0.54
- Total RVUs
- 1.78
- Global days
- 000
National rate · 2026
$59.45
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 29131 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
On this page 10 sections
What 29131 covers
This service covers fitting and applying a dynamic splint to a finger. Unlike a rigid splint that holds the digit still, a dynamic design permits controlled movement while providing support or directional force. It may be used in office, emergency, or hand-care settings for a finger injury or condition requiring supported motion. A physician or other qualified clinician selects and positions the splint for the treated finger.
Report 29131 for a dynamic finger splint, not a static finger splint or a splint applied to the short arm. Documentation should identify the clinical problem, treated finger, dynamic splint type, and application. The code has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. For bilateral application, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted; 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 29131 pays more and less
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
109 payment localities
$52.69 to $77.32
109 of 109 payment localities
29131 rates by state
Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.
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Local rates. Clear comparisons.
Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.
$52.69
$69.79
Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.
View every state and territory as a table
| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $69.79 | 1 |
| AL | $53.45 | 1 |
| AR | $52.69 | 1 |
| AZ | $57.87 | 1 |
| CA | $62.24–$77.32 | 29 |
| CO | $61.56 | 1 |
| CT | $63.36 | 1 |
| DC | $67.63 | 1 |
| DE | $58.81 | 1 |
| FL | $59.09–$65.13 | 3 |
| GA | $55.78–$60.66 | 2 |
| GU | $63.64 | 1 |
| HI | $63.64 | 1 |
| IA | $54.55 | 1 |
| ID | $54.95 | 1 |
| IL | $57.59–$63.23 | 4 |
| IN | $55.25 | 1 |
| KS | $54.41 | 1 |
| KY | $54.93 | 1 |
| LA | $54.89–$57.53 | 2 |
| MA | $61.25–$67.42 | 2 |
| MD | $59.88–$67.63 | 3 |
| ME | $55.34–$58.12 | 2 |
| MI | $56.43–$59.93 | 2 |
| MN | $58.70 | 1 |
| MO | $54.04–$57.60 | 3 |
| MS | $53.37 | 1 |
| MT | $59.45 | 1 |
| NC | $55.89 | 1 |
| ND | $57.87 | 1 |
| NE | $54.81 | 1 |
| NH | $60.71 | 1 |
| NJ | $64.00–$66.97 | 2 |
| NM | $56.77 | 1 |
| NV | $59.05 | 1 |
| NY | $56.72–$70.22 | 5 |
| OH | $56.10 | 1 |
| OK | $54.71 | 1 |
| OR | $58.51–$63.36 | 2 |
| PA | $56.13–$61.88 | 2 |
| PR | $59.84 | 1 |
| RI | $60.79 | 1 |
| SC | $56.11 | 1 |
| SD | $57.68 | 1 |
| TN | $54.69 | 1 |
| TX | $55.78–$61.43 | 8 |
| UT | $56.86 | 1 |
| VA | $58.01–$67.63 | 2 |
| VI | $59.84 | 1 |
| VT | $57.75 | 1 |
| WA | $61.10–$68.66 | 2 |
| WI | $55.98 | 1 |
| WV | $55.53 | 1 |
| WY | $58.76 | 1 |
How the 29131 rate is calculated
Each of 29131’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 · 29131
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.54
0.54 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense1.16
1.16 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.08
0.08 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
1.7800
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$59.45
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 29131
The CMS indicators that decide how 29131 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 29131
Splint application
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| 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) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
29131 without 50 · national office
$59.45
Splint application
29131-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$89.18
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).
29131 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 29130Finger splint
- Choose 29131 for a dynamic finger splint that allows controlled movement. Choose 29130 when the finger splint is static.
- 29126Short-arm splint
- 29126 describes dynamic splint application to the short arm; 29131 is for a dynamic finger splint.
- 29125Short arm splint
- 29125 is for a static short-arm splint, not a dynamic finger splint.
29131 billing questions
How is 29131 different from 29130?
29131 is for a dynamic finger splint that permits controlled movement; 29130 is for a static finger splint that holds the finger in position.
When would 29126 be a better choice?
Use 29126 for a dynamic short-arm splint. Code 29131 is specific to application of a dynamic finger splint.
What documentation supports 29131?
Record the indication, which finger was treated, the dynamic splint applied, and how it was positioned to support the intended movement.
How does Medicare handle bilateral application?
The CMS bilateral rule specifies modifier 50, with payment at 150% for a bilateral procedure.
Is same-day care included in the payment?
Yes. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care.
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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