Billing code 29515: Splint applicationMedicare rate & RVUs
Report short leg splint application when a clinician immobilizes the lower leg, ankle, or foot, commonly for an acute injury requiring support.
Medicare pays $82.50 for 29515 nationally in the office and $49.77 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $72.83–$107.46.
Medicare rate · 29515
Splint application
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 0.71
- Total RVUs
- 2.47
- Global days
- 000
National rate · 2026
$82.50
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 29515 → · 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 29515 covers
A clinician applies a short leg splint to immobilize the lower leg, ankle, or foot. In urgent care and emergency settings, it is commonly used for an acute ankle or foot injury when temporary immobilization is needed. The splint may also protect an injured area while the patient awaits further evaluation or definitive treatment. The application is distinct from strapping, which provides support without the same splint immobilization.
Report the service when the clinician applies the short leg splint and the documentation supports the affected site and need for immobilization. When splint application is part of definitive fracture treatment, it is included in that treatment rather than separately reported. This minor procedure has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. If multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Bilateral application with 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 29515 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
$72.83 to $107.46
109 of 109 payment localities
29515 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.
$72.83
$96.88
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 | $96.12 | 1 |
| AL | $73.91 | 1 |
| AR | $72.83 | 1 |
| AZ | $80.22 | 1 |
| CA | $86.30–$107.46 | 29 |
| CO | $85.41 | 1 |
| CT | $88.03 | 1 |
| DC | $93.98 | 1 |
| DE | $81.56 | 1 |
| FL | $82.11–$90.87 | 3 |
| GA | $77.35–$84.25 | 2 |
| GU | $88.32 | 1 |
| HI | $88.32 | 1 |
| IA | $75.43 | 1 |
| ID | $76.01 | 1 |
| IL | $79.99–$88.13 | 4 |
| IN | $76.44 | 1 |
| KS | $75.25 | 1 |
| KY | $76.08 | 1 |
| LA | $76.03–$79.81 | 2 |
| MA | $84.97–$93.66 | 2 |
| MD | $83.07–$93.98 | 3 |
| ME | $76.60–$80.53 | 2 |
| MI | $78.25–$83.33 | 2 |
| MN | $81.27 | 1 |
| MO | $74.84–$79.88 | 3 |
| MS | $73.84 | 1 |
| MT | $82.49 | 1 |
| NC | $77.38 | 1 |
| ND | $80.12 | 1 |
| NE | $75.79 | 1 |
| NH | $84.25 | 1 |
| NJ | $88.88–$93.03 | 2 |
| NM | $78.76 | 1 |
| NV | $81.89 | 1 |
| NY | $78.57–$97.81 | 5 |
| OH | $77.77 | 1 |
| OK | $75.75 | 1 |
| OR | $81.09–$87.93 | 2 |
| PA | $77.79–$85.95 | 2 |
| PR | $83.04 | 1 |
| RI | $84.33 | 1 |
| SC | $77.74 | 1 |
| SD | $79.84 | 1 |
| TN | $75.66 | 1 |
| TX | $77.29–$85.27 | 8 |
| UT | $78.80 | 1 |
| VA | $80.39–$93.98 | 2 |
| VI | $83.04 | 1 |
| VT | $79.97 | 1 |
| WA | $84.75–$95.39 | 2 |
| WI | $77.43 | 1 |
| WV | $77.05 | 1 |
| WY | $81.46 | 1 |
How the 29515 rate is calculated
Each of 29515’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 · 29515
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.71Practice expense 1.64Malpractice 0.12
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 29515
The CMS indicators that decide how 29515 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 29515
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
29515 without 50 · national office
$82.50
Splint application
29515-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$123.75
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).
29515 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
29515 vs 29505 vs 29540: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 29505Splint application
- Choose 29515 for short leg immobilization involving the lower leg, ankle, or foot. Choose 29505 when the splint extends above the knee.
- 29540Ankle/foot strapping
- 29540 describes ankle or foot strapping. Use 29515 when the service is application of a short leg splint rather than supportive strapping.
29515 billing questions
How is a short leg splint different from a long leg splint?
billing code 29515 is for a splint that supports the lower leg, ankle, or foot. Use 29505 when the splint extends above the knee.
Can I report 29515 with a fracture treatment code?
When the splint application is part of definitive fracture treatment, it is included in the fracture treatment service and is not separately reported.
Can an E/M service be billed on the same date?
A separately identifiable E/M service may be reported when supported by the documentation. Same-day preoperative and postoperative care for the splint application is included in its 0-day global period.
What modifier is used when splints are applied to both legs?
Use modifier 50 for bilateral application when the service is performed on both sides. CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
How does Medicare apply multiple procedure reduction?
When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the other procedures are paid at 50%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported for this service?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are 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
Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
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