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Billing code 29884: Knee arthroscopyMedicare rate & RVUs

Arthroscopic knee adhesion release treats motion-limiting scar tissue, typically when postoperative stiffness requires surgical release rather than manipulation alone.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities2.8K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $586.19 for 29884 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 29884

Knee arthroscopy

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
8.07
Total RVUs
17.55
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$586.19

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 29884 → · 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 29884 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 29884 covers

An orthopedic surgeon uses a knee arthroscope and instruments to release adhesions that restrict joint motion, often in a patient with arthrofibrosis after prior knee surgery. The procedure may include manipulation of the knee to improve motion. It is generally performed in an operating room, with the operative report identifying the adhesions and describing their release.

Report this code when the surgeon performs arthroscopic lysis of adhesions, not for manipulation alone or routine inspection of the joint. Documentation should support the presence of adhesions, the surgical work performed, and any manipulation. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. When related endoscopies are performed together, endoscopy family pricing applies. For a bilateral procedure, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; co-surgeons require 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 29884 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

29884 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$529.47
Alaska*Unavailable$713.04
ArizonaUnavailable$570.10
ArkansasUnavailable$522.47
AtlantaUnavailable$602.32
AustinUnavailable$595.55
BakersfieldUnavailable$594.70
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$622.71
BeaumontUnavailable$558.74
BrazoriaUnavailable$573.79

29884 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.

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29884 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 29884 rate is calculated

Each of 29884’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 · 29884

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 8.07Practice expense 7.82Malpractice 1.66

17.5500 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$586.19

All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 29884

29884 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 29884

Knee arthroscopy

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)2Paid.
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 · 29884

Knee 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.

  • 24 Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79 Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58 Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78 Unplanned 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

29884 without 50 · national facility

$586.19

Knee arthroscopy

29884-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$879.29

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

29884 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

29884 vs 27570 vs 29875 vs 29877: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 29884
    Knee arthroscopy · 8.07 wRVU
    —
  • 27570
    Knee manipulation · 1.75 wRVU
    —
  • 29875
    Knee synovectomy · 6.29 wRVU
    —
  • 29877
    Knee chondroplasty · 8.09 wRVU
    —

How to choose

27570Knee manipulation
This code describes arthroscopic lysis of knee adhesions, with or without manipulation. Code 27570 is for manipulation without the arthroscopic adhesion-release work.
29875Knee synovectomy
Use 29884 for release of adhesions restricting motion; 29875 describes limited synovectomy, removal of inflamed synovial tissue.
29877Knee chondroplasty
Use 29884 for arthroscopic release of adhesions. Code 29877 addresses debridement or shaving of articular cartilage.

Codes related to 29884

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

Codes related to 29884
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Used instead
27570Knee manipulationFor knee manipulation without arthroscopic release of adhesions.No office rate
Same family
29875Knee synovectomyKnee arthroscopy for limited synovectomy rather than adhesion release.No office rate
29876Knee synovectomyKnee arthroscopy for major synovectomy, a different operative target.No office rate
29877Knee chondroplastyKnee arthroscopy for cartilage debridement or shaving, not adhesion release.No office rate

29884 billing questions

When is this code more appropriate than manipulation alone?

Use it when the surgeon arthroscopically releases adhesions restricting knee motion. Manipulation without arthroscopic lysis is a different service, represented by code 27570.

Is manipulation included when performed with the adhesion release?

Yes. Manipulation may accompany the arthroscopic release; do not separately report code 27570 for that same manipulation in the same knee session.

What should the operative report support?

Document the motion-limiting adhesions, the arthroscopic release performed, and any manipulation. The report should make clear that the surgeon treated adhesions rather than performing only diagnostic inspection or another arthroscopic procedure.

How does the 90-day global period affect postoperative care?

The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global period.

How is a bilateral procedure handled under the CMS facts?

For bilateral performance, modifier 50 is paid at 150%.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. Co-surgeons are paid only with supporting documentation; team surgery is 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 29884PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,365 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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