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Billing code 29840: Wrist arthroscopyMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports a diagnostic arthroscopic examination of the wrist, with or without synovial biopsy, when the surgeon evaluates suspected intra-articular disease.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities61 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $441.23 for 29840 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 29840

Wrist arthroscopy

Work RVUs
5.54
Total RVUs
13.21
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$441.23

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 29840 →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 29840 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 29840 covers

An orthopedic or hand surgeon inserts an arthroscope into the wrist joint to inspect its internal structures and assess suspected intra-articular problems, such as persistent pain with an uncertain cause. The surgeon may take a synovial biopsy during the examination. This is a surgical service typically performed in a facility operating room, rather than a routine office evaluation.

Report 29840 when the wrist arthroscopy is diagnostic and no more definitive arthroscopic procedure is performed on that joint during the same session; the diagnostic survey is part of a therapeutic arthroscopy when one is performed. The operative report should support the indication, arthroscopic examination, findings, and any biopsy. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in one 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 requires documented medical necessity; 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 29840 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

29840 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$396.92
Alaska*Unavailable$529.97
ArizonaUnavailable$428.79
ArkansasUnavailable$391.43
AtlantaUnavailable$453.23
AustinUnavailable$449.62
BakersfieldUnavailable$449.98
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$469.41
BeaumontUnavailable$418.92
BrazoriaUnavailable$432.01

29840 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
29840 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 29840 rate is calculated

Each of 29840’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 · 29840

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Work5.54

5.54 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense6.48

6.48 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice1.19

1.19 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

13.2100

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$441.23

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 29840

29840 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 29840

Wrist arthroscopy

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period090Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
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 · 29840

Wrist arthroscopy

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

29840 without 50 · national facility

$441.23

Wrist arthroscopy

29840-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$661.85

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

29840 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

5 codes, side by side

  • 29840

    Wrist arthroscopy5.54 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 29843

    Wrist arthroscopy6 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 29844

    Wrist arthroscopy6.35 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 29846

    Wrist arthroscopy6.72 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 29847

    Wrist arthroscopy7.04 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

29843Wrist arthroscopy
Use 29840 for diagnostic wrist-joint inspection, with or without biopsy. Code 29843 describes arthroscopic lavage and drainage for infection.
29844Wrist arthroscopy
29840 is diagnostic; 29844 represents therapeutic partial synovectomy. A diagnostic survey during the synovectomy is not separately reported.
29846Wrist arthroscopy
Use 29846 when arthroscopy includes triangular fibrocartilage work or joint debridement; 29840 is for a diagnostic examination without that definitive treatment.
29847Wrist arthroscopy
29847 describes arthroscopic internal fixation for a distal radius fracture, not diagnostic wrist inspection.

Codes related to 29840

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

Codes related to 29840
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
29843Wrist arthroscopyWrist arthroscopy for infection involving lavage and drainage rather than diagnostic inspection.No office rate
29844Wrist arthroscopyWrist arthroscopy with partial synovectomy, a therapeutic procedure.No office rate
29845Wrist arthroscopyWrist arthroscopy with complete synovectomy.No office rate
29846Wrist arthroscopyWrist arthroscopy involving triangular fibrocartilage work or joint debridement.No office rate
29847Wrist arthroscopyWrist arthroscopy for internal fixation of a distal radius fracture.No office rate

29840 billing questions

Can 29840 be reported with a therapeutic wrist arthroscopy?

Generally, no. When a definitive arthroscopic procedure is performed on the same wrist during the session, the diagnostic inspection is integral to that procedure.

Does 29840 include a synovial biopsy?

Yes. The diagnostic service may include a synovial biopsy; document the biopsy when performed.

What distinguishes 29840 from 29844?

29840 is a diagnostic examination, with or without biopsy. 29844 describes arthroscopic partial synovectomy, a therapeutic procedure.

What global period applies to 29840?

CMS assigns a 90-day global period. The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included.

Can modifier 50 be used when both wrists are treated?

CMS identifies this as a bilateral procedure; reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Documentation should support services on both wrists.

When is an assistant at surgery payable?

CMS permits assistant-at-surgery payment only when medical necessity is documented. 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
RVUs for 29840PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,335 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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