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Billing code 29806: Shoulder stabilizationMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports arthroscopic tightening and repair of the shoulder capsule to stabilize an unstable joint, commonly after recurrent dislocations or subluxations.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities948 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $972.97 for 29806 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 29806

Shoulder stabilization

Work RVUs
14.76
Total RVUs
29.13
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$972.97

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 29806 →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
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 29806 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 29806 covers

An orthopedic surgeon performs this shoulder arthroscopy to tighten or repair capsular tissue and stabilize a loose joint. A common indication is recurrent shoulder instability, including an anterior Bankart-type injury in which the capsulolabral tissue has detached. The surgeon works through arthroscopic portals, typically in an outpatient hospital or ambulatory surgery center, and may use anchors to secure tissue to the glenoid.

Select this code when the operative work is arthroscopic capsular stabilization; an open repair is coded differently. The operative report should establish the instability or capsular injury and describe the arthroscopic repair or tightening performed. Diagnostic inspection of the same shoulder is part of the surgical arthroscopy. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When related endoscopies are performed together, endoscopy family pricing applies. For bilateral reporting with modifier 50, CMS pays at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is barred by statutory restriction; co-surgeons are paid only with 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 29806 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

29806 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$881.80
Alaska*Unavailable$1,198.82
ArizonaUnavailable$946.69
ArkansasUnavailable$870.59
AtlantaUnavailable$1,000.79
AustinUnavailable$984.44
BakersfieldUnavailable$979.29
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$1,032.44
BeaumontUnavailable$931.69
BrazoriaUnavailable$951.31

29806 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.

View every state and territory as a table
29806 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 29806 rate is calculated

Each of 29806’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 · 29806

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Work14.76

14.76 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense11.35

11.35 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice3.02

3.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

29.1300

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$972.97

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 29806

29806 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 29806

Shoulder stabilization

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period090Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included.
Multiple procedures3Endoscopy family rules apply.
Bilateral (modifier 50)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
Co-surgeons (62)1Permitted with supporting documentation.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.10/0.69/0.21Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 29806

Shoulder stabilization

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.

  • 24Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78Unplanned return to the operating room for a related complication
SurgeryVisit
Sep 23, 2026Jan 10, 2027

Pre-op dayGlobal period

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

29806 without 50 · national facility

$972.97

Shoulder stabilization

29806-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$1,459.46

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).

When to use modifier 50

29806 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

5 codes, side by side

  • 29806

    Shoulder stabilization14.76 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 29807

    Shoulder arthroscopy14.3 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 29805

    Shoulder arthroscopy5.88 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 23455

    Shoulder stabilization14.3 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 29827

    Rotator cuff repair15.2 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

29807Shoulder arthroscopy
This code treats capsular instability; 29807 treats a superior labral lesion. Base the choice on the pathology repaired and the documented operative work.
29805Shoulder arthroscopy
29805 is diagnostic shoulder arthroscopy. When surgical capsular stabilization is performed on that shoulder, diagnostic inspection is included in the surgical arthroscopy.
23455Shoulder stabilization
This code is for arthroscopic capsular stabilization. Use 23455 when the surgeon performs the corresponding anterior capsulorrhaphy with labral repair through an open approach.
29827Rotator cuff repair
29827 repairs a rotator cuff tear arthroscopically; this code stabilizes the shoulder capsule. A separate cuff repair may be performed during the same session.

Codes related to 29806

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 29806
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
29807Shoulder arthroscopyArthroscopic shoulder labral repair for a superior labral lesion rather than capsular instability.No office rate
Often billed with
29827Rotator cuff repairMay be performed in the same session when a separate rotator cuff tear also requires arthroscopic repair.No office rate
Used instead
23455Shoulder stabilizationOpen anterior capsulorrhaphy with labral repair when the surgeon uses an open approach.No office rate

29806 billing questions

When should this be chosen instead of 29807?

Choose 29806 for arthroscopic capsular stabilization addressing shoulder instability. Code 29807 addresses repair of a superior labral lesion, such as a SLAP lesion.

Can diagnostic shoulder arthroscopy be reported separately?

Diagnostic inspection of the same shoulder is included in the surgical arthroscopy and is not separately reported with this repair.

How is bilateral surgery reported?

CMS identifies this as a bilateral procedure: report modifier 50 when both shoulders are treated, and payment is at 150%.

Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be paid?

Assistant-at-surgery payment is barred by statutory restriction. Co-surgeons are paid only with supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.

What documentation supports this code?

Document the shoulder instability or capsular injury and the arthroscopic steps used to tighten or repair the capsule. The operative report should distinguish this work from treatment of a separate labral or rotator cuff condition.

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
RVUs for 29806PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,317 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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