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Billing code 29898: Ankle arthroscopyMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports extensive arthroscopic cleanup of abnormal ankle-joint tissue, such as synovium, scar, or damaged cartilage, when the documented work exceeds limited debridement.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities4.2K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $523.73 for 29898 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 29898

Ankle arthroscopy

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
8.28
Total RVUs
15.68
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$523.73

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 29898 → · 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 29898 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 29898 covers

An orthopedic surgeon uses an arthroscope and instruments through small incisions to remove or smooth abnormal tissue inside the ankle joint. The work may address extensive synovial tissue, scar tissue, or damaged cartilage, including tissue contributing to impingement or restricted motion. This procedure is commonly performed in an operating room for symptomatic ankle-joint disease or injury when arthroscopic treatment is appropriate.

Select this code when the operative report supports extensive debridement; limited cleanup is reported with the limited-debridement code instead. Document the structures treated and the extent of work, not merely that debridement occurred. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same 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 may be made; co-surgeon payment requires 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 29898 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

29898 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$479.83
Alaska*Unavailable$656.44
ArizonaUnavailable$511.31
ArkansasUnavailable$474.40
AtlantaUnavailable$536.30
AustinUnavailable$531.38
BakersfieldUnavailable$532.21
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$553.10
BeaumontUnavailable$502.28
BrazoriaUnavailable$514.83

29898 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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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
29898 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 29898 rate is calculated

Each of 29898’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 · 29898

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 8.28Practice expense 6.14Malpractice 1.26

15.6800 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$523.73

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 29898

29898 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 29898

Ankle 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)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 · 29898

Ankle 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

29898 without 50 · national facility

$523.73

Ankle arthroscopy

29898-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$785.60

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

29898 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

29898 vs 29897 vs 29894 vs 29895 vs 29891: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 29898
    Ankle arthroscopy · 8.28 wRVU
    —
  • 29897
    Ankle arthroscopy · 7.14 wRVU
    —
  • 29894
    Ankle arthroscopy · 7.17 wRVU
    —
  • 29895
    Ankle arthroscopy · 6.95 wRVU
    —
  • 29891
    Ankle arthroscopy · 9.43 wRVU
    —

How to choose

29897Ankle arthroscopy
29897 describes limited ankle-joint debridement. Use 29898 when the operative report supports extensive debridement.
29894Ankle arthroscopy
29894 describes arthroscopic removal of a loose or foreign body. This code describes extensive debridement rather than removal alone.
29895Ankle arthroscopy
29895 is for partial synovectomy. Choose 29898 for extensive debridement rather than synovial removal alone.
29891Ankle arthroscopy
29891 addresses excision of an ankle osteochondral defect, including drilling. It is more specific than general extensive joint debridement.

Codes related to 29898

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

Codes related to 29898
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
29897Ankle arthroscopySibling ankle arthroscopy code for limited rather than extensive debridement.No office rate
29894Ankle arthroscopyAnkle arthroscopy code for removal of a loose or foreign body.No office rate
29895Ankle arthroscopyAnkle arthroscopy code for partial synovectomy.No office rate
29891Ankle arthroscopyAnkle arthroscopy code directed to an osteochondral defect.No office rate

29898 billing questions

How is extensive debridement distinguished from limited debridement?

Use the extensive-debridement code when the operative report supports broader or more substantial ankle-joint cleanup. The limited-debridement code applies when the documented work is limited.

Does removing a loose body make this the right code?

Not by itself. Ankle arthroscopy for removal of a loose or foreign body has a separate code; choose based on the work actually performed and documented.

What documentation supports extensive debridement?

Record the abnormal tissue or structures treated and describe the extent of arthroscopic debridement. A statement that the joint was simply cleaned up does not establish extensive work.

What is included in the Medicare global period?

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

How is bilateral reporting handled?

When the procedure is performed bilaterally, modifier 50 is used and Medicare pays at 150%.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. 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 29898PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,377 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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