FeeBase
Log inGet started
Menu

Billing code 29887: OCD lesion fixationMedicare rate & RVUs

Arthroscopic drilling and internal fixation treat an intact osteochondritis dissecans lesion when the surgeon aims to promote healing and stabilize the fragment.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities43 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $710.44 for 29887 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 29887

OCD lesion fixation

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
9.91
Total RVUs
21.27
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$710.44

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 29887 → · 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 29887 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 29887 covers

An orthopedic surgeon uses knee arthroscopy to drill an intact osteochondritis dissecans lesion and secure it with internal fixation. The procedure is intended to support healing while preserving a fragment that remains suitable for stabilization. It is typically performed in an operating room or ambulatory surgery center for a symptomatic knee lesion that the surgeon elects to treat operatively.

Report this code when the operative record supports both drilling of an intact lesion and internal fixation; document the lesion, laterality, arthroscopic work, and fixation performed. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For related endoscopies performed together, CMS endoscopy-family pricing applies. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; 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 29887 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

29887 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$641.23
Alaska*Unavailable$864.38
ArizonaUnavailable$690.71
ArkansasUnavailable$632.69
AtlantaUnavailable$730.54
AustinUnavailable$720.98
BakersfieldUnavailable$718.83
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$754.99
BeaumontUnavailable$677.63
BrazoriaUnavailable$694.80

29887 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

Explore a state

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
29887 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 29887 rate is calculated

Each of 29887’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 · 29887

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 9.91Practice expense 9.25Malpractice 2.11

21.2700 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$710.44

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 29887

29887 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 29887

OCD lesion fixation

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 · 29887

OCD lesion fixation

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

29887 without 50 · national facility

$710.44

OCD lesion fixation

29887-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$1,065.66

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

29887 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

29887 vs 29886 vs 29885 vs 29879: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 29887
    OCD lesion fixation · 9.91 wRVU
    —
  • 29886
    Knee arthroscopy · 8.28 wRVU
    —
  • 29885
    Knee arthroscopy · 9.95 wRVU
    —
  • 29879
    Arthroscopic cartilage procedure · 8.77 wRVU
    —

How to choose

29886Knee arthroscopy
Use 29886 for drilling an intact osteochondritis dissecans lesion without internal fixation. Use 29887 when the surgeon also fixes the lesion.
29885Knee arthroscopy
This related code describes drilling for an osteochondritis dissecans lesion more generally. 29887 specifically identifies an intact lesion treated with internal fixation.
29879Arthroscopic cartilage procedure
29879 describes abrasion arthroplasty, a different treatment approach for a cartilage defect. 29887 is for drilling and fixing an intact osteochondritis dissecans lesion.

Codes related to 29887

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

Codes related to 29887
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
29886Knee arthroscopyDrilling for an intact osteochondritis dissecans lesion without the fixation included in 29887.No office rate
29885Knee arthroscopyRelated arthroscopic drilling code for an osteochondritis dissecans lesion.No office rate
Used instead
29879Arthroscopic cartilage procedureArthroscopic abrasion arthroplasty is a different approach for selected knee cartilage lesions.No office rate

29887 billing questions

How does this code differ from 29886?

Both concern drilling an intact osteochondritis dissecans lesion. Report 29887 when the surgeon also performs internal fixation; 29886 describes drilling without that fixation.

Can drilling without fixation also be reported separately?

Do not report 29886 in addition for the same lesion when the surgeon drills and fixes it under 29887. The fixation is part of the service represented by 29887.

What documentation supports 29887?

The operative report should identify the intact osteochondritis dissecans lesion and describe arthroscopic drilling and the internal fixation used to stabilize it.

How is bilateral surgery reported?

For bilateral procedures, use modifier 50; CMS pays this code at 150%.

How does the global period affect postoperative billing?

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

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be paid?

An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeon payment requires 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 29887PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,368 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

Fee sheets

Put 29887 and the rest of your codes on one sheet

Current Medicare rates for every code you bill at your locality, with what changed since last quarter.

Get a fee sheetOr price your code list free →