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Billing code 29901: MCP arthroscopyMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports arthroscopic removal of part of the inflamed synovial lining in a metacarpophalangeal joint when surgical treatment is performed.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities26 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $523.73 for 29901 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 29901

MCP arthroscopy

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
6.43
Total RVUs
15.68
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$523.73

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 29901 → · 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 29901 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 29901 covers

A hand surgeon uses an arthroscope and instruments through small portals to remove part of the synovial lining from a metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint. The procedure may be used for persistent synovitis, including synovial inflammation associated with inflammatory arthritis, when arthroscopic treatment is selected. It is performed in a surgical setting; Medicare reported these services in facility settings in 2024.

Report this code when the operative note supports arthroscopic partial synovectomy of an MCP joint. Document the treated joint, arthroscopic approach, and that the synovectomy was partial rather than complete. Diagnostic inspection of that joint performed as part of the surgical procedure is not separately reported. The code has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 for bilateral surgery 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 29901 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

29901 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$471.17
Alaska*Unavailable$628.02
ArizonaUnavailable$509.05
ArkansasUnavailable$464.65
AtlantaUnavailable$537.66
AustinUnavailable$534.32
BakersfieldUnavailable$535.51
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$557.11
BeaumontUnavailable$496.78
BrazoriaUnavailable$513.15

29901 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
29901 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 29901 rate is calculated

Each of 29901’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 · 29901

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 6.43Practice expense 7.90Malpractice 1.35

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 29901

29901 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 29901

MCP 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 · 29901

MCP 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

29901 without 50 · national facility

$523.73

MCP arthroscopy

29901-50 · 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

29901 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

29901 vs 29900 vs 29902 vs 29999: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 29901
    MCP arthroscopy · 6.43 wRVU
    —
  • 29900
    Joint arthroscopy · 5.73 wRVU
    —
  • 29902
    MCP arthroscopy · 6.98 wRVU
    —
  • 29999
    · 0 wRVU
    —

How to choose

29900Joint arthroscopy
Use 29900 for diagnostic MCP arthroscopy, with or without synovial biopsy. Use 29901 when partial synovectomy is performed as surgical treatment.
29902MCP arthroscopy
The distinguishing factor is the extent of synovial removal: 29901 is partial, while 29902 is complete.
29999Unlisted px arthroscopy
29901 specifically describes arthroscopic partial synovectomy of an MCP joint. Consider 29999 only for an arthroscopic service without a specific code.

Codes related to 29901

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

Codes related to 29901
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
29900Joint arthroscopyDiagnostic MCP arthroscopy; 29901 instead reports arthroscopic partial synovectomy.No office rate
29902MCP arthroscopyMCP arthroscopy code for complete rather than partial synovectomy.No office rate
Used instead
29999Unlisted px arthroscopyUnlisted arthroscopy code when the MCP arthroscopic service has no specific code.No office rate

29901 billing questions

How is this different from 29900?

29900 is for diagnostic MCP arthroscopy, with or without synovial biopsy. Use 29901 when arthroscopy includes partial removal of synovium as treatment.

When would 29902 be reported instead?

29902 represents complete MCP synovectomy. The operative documentation should support the extent performed; partial synovectomy is reported with 29901.

Can diagnostic arthroscopy of the same joint be billed separately?

Diagnostic inspection performed as part of the arthroscopic synovectomy is integral to the surgical service and is not separately reported for that joint and session.

What documentation supports 29901?

Document the MCP joint treated, arthroscopic approach, synovial disease addressed, and partial extent of synovial removal. The note should distinguish partial from complete synovectomy.

How does the global period affect postoperative visits?

The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. Those included services are part of the surgical package.

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 29901PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,380 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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