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Billing code 29899: Ankle arthroscopyMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports an ankle arthroscopic operation when no specific code describes the distinct work performed in the ankle joint.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities219 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $921.20 for 29899 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 29899

Ankle arthroscopy

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
15.02
Total RVUs
27.58
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$921.20

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 29899 → · 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 29899 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 29899 covers

An orthopedic surgeon typically reports 29899 for arthroscopic ankle work that has no specific listed code. The service is performed in the ankle joint, commonly in a hospital outpatient department or ambulatory surgery center. This unlisted code identifies the procedure as arthroscopic, but does not specify the operative objective or extent; the operative report must make those details clear.

Choose a specific ankle arthroscopy code when it accurately describes the work, such as removal of a loose body or a defined level of debridement. For 29899, submit documentation describing the procedure and why a listed code does not fit; a comparable listed procedure can help explain the work for review. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued is paid in full and others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be allowed; 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 29899 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

29899 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$840.89
Alaska*Unavailable$1,152.95
ArizonaUnavailable$898.00
ArkansasUnavailable$831.02
AtlantaUnavailable$946.10
AustinUnavailable$931.02
BakersfieldUnavailable$927.08
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$974.64
BeaumontUnavailable$885.15
BrazoriaUnavailable$902.41

29899 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
29899 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 29899 rate is calculated

Each of 29899’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 · 29899

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 15.02Practice expense 9.86Malpractice 2.70

27.5800 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$921.20

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 29899

29899 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 29899

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 · 29899

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

29899 without 50 · national facility

$921.20

Ankle arthroscopy

29899-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$1,381.80

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

29899 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

29899 vs 29894 vs 29897 vs 29898 vs 29891: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 29899
    Ankle arthroscopy · 15.02 wRVU
    —
  • 29894
    Ankle arthroscopy · 7.17 wRVU
    —
  • 29897
    Ankle arthroscopy · 7.14 wRVU
    —
  • 29898
    Ankle arthroscopy · 8.28 wRVU
    —
  • 29891
    Ankle arthroscopy · 9.43 wRVU
    —

How to choose

29894Ankle arthroscopy
29894 specifically describes arthroscopic removal of a loose body or foreign body. Use 29899 only when the ankle procedure is not represented by a specific listed code.
29897Ankle arthroscopy
29897 identifies limited ankle arthroscopic debridement. A procedure that meets that description should not be reported as unlisted.
29898Ankle arthroscopy
29898 identifies extensive ankle arthroscopic debridement. Choose it when the documented work meets that description rather than defaulting to 29899.
29891Ankle arthroscopy
29891 describes arthroscopic excision of an ankle osteochondral defect, including drilling when performed; 29899 is reserved for work without a specific listed code.

Codes related to 29899

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

Codes related to 29899
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Used instead
29894Ankle arthroscopyUse for ankle arthroscopic removal of a loose body or foreign body.No office rate
29895Ankle arthroscopyUse for ankle arthroscopic partial synovectomy when that specific service is performed.No office rate
29897Ankle arthroscopyUse for ankle arthroscopic limited debridement when the work meets that descriptor.No office rate
29898Ankle arthroscopyUse for ankle arthroscopic extensive debridement when the work meets that descriptor.No office rate
29891Ankle arthroscopyUse for ankle arthroscopic excision of an osteochondral defect, including drilling when performed.No office rate
29892Talar lesion repairUse for arthroscopically aided repair of a qualifying large osteochondritis dissecans lesion.No office rate

29899 billing questions

When should 29899 be used instead of 29894, 29897, or 29898?

Use 29899 only when no specific ankle arthroscopy code describes the work. Codes 29894, 29897, and 29898 identify particular procedures or debridement levels.

What documentation should accompany an unlisted-code claim?

The operative report should describe the arthroscopic work, its purpose, and why no listed ankle arthroscopy code fits. A comparable listed procedure can help explain the service for review.

Can a listed ankle arthroscopy code also be reported for the same work?

Do not use 29899 as a second description of work already represented by a specific code. The documentation should distinguish any separate service being reported.

What postoperative care is included?

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

How are multiple procedures and bilateral reporting handled?

For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery payment may be allowed. 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 29899PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,378 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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