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CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

20705 in Madera

Office / nonfacility

$126.99

Base rate per service

Facility setting

$102.83

Base rate per service

Amounts below use the non-QP conversion factor for participating physicians. These are base physician payments before claim-level adjustments, not patient costs or total hospital charges.

Orthopedic surgery

About 20705: Intra-articular drug device removal

Removal of a drug-delivery device from a joint is reported with the primary operation when a previously placed intra-articular implant is taken out.

This code represents operative removal of a drug-delivery device positioned inside a joint. A representative situation is removal of an antibiotic-containing spacer during a staged operation for an infected joint. Orthopedic surgeons and other physicians performing musculoskeletal surgery may encounter this work in an operating room or hospital facility. The device’s intra-articular location and drug-delivery purpose distinguish the service from removal of ordinary fixation hardware or a joint prosthesis.

Report 20705 only with the primary procedure performed during the operative encounter; it is not a standalone service. The operative report should identify the device, document its intra-articular location and removal, and support the associated primary operation. CMS treats this as an add-on code, with payment falling within the primary procedure’s global period. The site of the device—not the specific medication or the reason for its use—guides selection among the related drug-delivery device codes.

CMS billing rules for 20705

Global period
Add-on code: billed only together with a primary procedure and paid within that procedure's global period.

Where the value comes from

  • Work RVU2.10 · 55%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU1.31 · 34%
  • Malpractice RVU0.43 · 11%

278

Medicare services in 2024 · #4050 by national volume

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.

20705 compared with similar codes

Office rates for Madera, from the same CMS release.

20703

Device removal

Intramedullary placement

$107.22

Both describe removal of a drug-delivery device, but 20705 is selected for an intra-articular location and 20703 for an intramedullary location.

20701

Device removal

Deep location

$65.29

20701 describes removal from a deep location; 20705 applies when the device is located inside a joint.

20704

Drug device placement

Intra-articular preparation and insertion

$154.35

20704 covers preparation and insertion of a drug-delivery device in a joint. 20705 describes removal of a previously placed intra-articular device.

The same code, a different location

How does Madera compare?

In Bakersfield, the office rate for 20705 is $128.18—$1.19 higher than the $126.99 rate in Madera. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

20705 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. Madera · This locality

    $126.99

  2. Bakersfield

    $128.18

    $1.19 higher than Madera

  3. Chico

    $126.99

    The same base rate than Madera

  4. El Centro

    $127.06

    $0.07 higher than Madera

  5. Fresno

    $126.99

    The same base rate than Madera

  6. Hanford-Corcoran

    $126.99

    The same base rate than Madera

  7. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty)

    $134.32

    $7.33 higher than Madera

Other payment areas listed in California appear first, followed by selected cross-country examples. The chart compares amounts, not distance.

Across 109 of 109 CMS payment localities with a supported office rate, 20705 ranges from $115.12 in Arkansas to $159.73 in Alaska*. This is a geographic range, not an average.

The code’s RVUs stay the same in these comparisons. Geographic adjustments to work, practice expense and malpractice change the dollar amount. A city name alone may not identify the payment area for a service address.

Compare all 108 other payment areas

  • Merced

    California · 20705

    Office

    $126.99

    Facility

    $102.83

    The same base rate than Madera for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 20705

    Office

    $126.99

    Facility

    $102.83

    The same base rate than Madera for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 20705

    Office

    $139.53

    Facility

    $110.47

    $12.54 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 20705

    Office

    $132.77

    Facility

    $106.72

    $5.78 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · 20705

    Office

    $126.99

    Facility

    $102.83

    The same base rate than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 20705

    Office

    $126.99

    Facility

    $102.83

    The same base rate than Madera for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 20705

    Office

    $131.61

    Facility

    $107.45

    $4.62 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 20705

    Office

    $131.25

    Facility

    $105.61

    $4.26 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 20705

    Office

    $130.73

    Facility

    $105.18

    $3.74 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 20705

    Office

    $132.36

    Facility

    $106.00

    $5.37 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 20705

    Office

    $145.09

    Facility

    $114.01

    $18.10 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty)

    California · 20705

    Office

    $144.60

    Facility

    $113.52

    $17.61 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty)

    California · 20705

    Office

    $148.65

    Facility

    $116.86

    $21.66 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty)

    California · 20705

    Office

    $146.65

    Facility

    $114.87

    $19.66 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 20705

    Office

    $128.87

    Facility

    $103.76

    $1.88 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 20705

    Office

    $132.48

    Facility

    $105.69

    $5.49 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 20705

    Office

    $130.82

    Facility

    $105.12

    $3.83 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 20705

    Office

    $133.68

    Facility

    $106.60

    $6.69 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 20705

    Office

    $126.99

    Facility

    $102.83

    The same base rate than Madera for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 20705

    Office

    $138.82

    Facility

    $109.77

    $11.83 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 20705

    Office

    $126.99

    Facility

    $102.83

    The same base rate than Madera for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 20705

    Office

    $126.99

    Facility

    $102.83

    The same base rate than Madera for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 20705

    Office

    $141.46

    Facility

    $115.49

    $14.47 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 20705

    Office

    $152.01

    Facility

    $129.07

    $25.02 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 20705

    Office

    $147.57

    Facility

    $125.41

    $20.58 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 20705

    Office

    $148.25

    Facility

    $122.64

    $21.26 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 20705

    Office

    $159.73

    Facility

    $136.25

    $32.74 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 20705

    Office

    $116.56

    Facility

    $97.27

    $10.43 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 20705

    Office

    $115.12

    Facility

    $96.19

    $11.87 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 20705

    Office

    $124.83

    Facility

    $103.47

    $2.16 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 20705

    Office

    $128.76

    Facility

    $105.30

    $1.77 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 20705

    Office

    $136.05

    Facility

    $112.31

    $9.06 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 20705

    Office

    $126.63

    Facility

    $104.85

    $0.36 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 20705

    Office

    $140.43

    Facility

    $118.10

    $13.44 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 20705

    Office

    $133.56

    Facility

    $112.48

    $6.57 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 20705

    Office

    $132.06

    Facility

    $109.66

    $5.07 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 20705

    Office

    $126.29

    Facility

    $106.63

    $0.70 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 20705

    Office

    $128.21

    Facility

    $103.14

    $1.22 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 20705

    Office

    $115.88

    Facility

    $95.71

    $11.11 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 20705

    Office

    $117.19

    Facility

    $96.91

    $9.80 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 20705

    Office

    $139.32

    Facility

    $119.04

    $12.33 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 20705

    Office

    $132.54

    Facility

    $112.41

    $5.55 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 20705

    Office

    $141.02

    Facility

    $118.38

    $14.03 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 20705

    Office

    $117.68

    Facility

    $97.25

    $9.31 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 20705

    Office

    $116.94

    Facility

    $97.01

    $10.05 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 20705

    Office

    $122.18

    Facility

    $102.58

    $4.81 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 20705

    Office

    $127.63

    Facility

    $106.89

    $0.64 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 20705

    Office

    $122.62

    Facility

    $103.11

    $4.37 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 20705

    Office

    $138.04

    Facility

    $111.72

    $11.05 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 20705

    Office

    $128.79

    Facility

    $105.57

    $1.80 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 20705

    Office

    $135.98

    Facility

    $112.33

    $8.99 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 20705

    Office

    $128.31

    Facility

    $106.00

    $1.32 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 20705

    Office

    $119.33

    Facility

    $99.05

    $7.66 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 20705

    Office

    $122.57

    Facility

    $100.72

    $4.42 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 20705

    Office

    $136.58

    Facility

    $115.31

    $9.59 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 20705

    Office

    $126.31

    Facility

    $106.18

    $0.68 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 20705

    Office

    $119.42

    Facility

    $96.73

    $7.57 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 20705

    Office

    $125.26

    Facility

    $104.56

    $1.73 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 20705

    Office

    $126.19

    Facility

    $105.20

    $0.80 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 20705

    Office

    $121.85

    Facility

    $102.85

    $5.14 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 20705

    Office

    $118.43

    Facility

    $99.45

    $8.56 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 20705

    Office

    $128.23

    Facility

    $106.19

    $1.24 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 20705

    Office

    $120.14

    Facility

    $99.58

    $6.85 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 20705

    Office

    $119.73

    Facility

    $97.68

    $7.26 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 20705

    Office

    $115.96

    Facility

    $95.61

    $11.03 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 20705

    Office

    $128.26

    Facility

    $105.31

    $1.27 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 20705

    Office

    $140.66

    Facility

    $115.08

    $13.67 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 20705

    Office

    $136.48

    Facility

    $112.41

    $9.49 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 20705

    Office

    $127.51

    Facility

    $107.30

    $0.52 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 20705

    Office

    $125.90

    Facility

    $103.84

    $1.09 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 20705

    Office

    $153.33

    Facility

    $127.12

    $26.34 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 20705

    Office

    $138.59

    Facility

    $114.45

    $11.60 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 20705

    Office

    $147.06

    Facility

    $121.00

    $20.07 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 20705

    Office

    $121.81

    Facility

    $100.86

    $5.18 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 20705

    Office

    $124.57

    Facility

    $104.44

    $2.42 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 20705

    Office

    $120.37

    Facility

    $100.69

    $6.62 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 20705

    Office

    $130.56

    Facility

    $106.07

    $3.57 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 20705

    Office

    $123.82

    Facility

    $101.86

    $3.17 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 20705

    Office

    $134.09

    Facility

    $111.14

    $7.10 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 20705

    Office

    $123.88

    Facility

    $103.64

    $3.11 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 20705

    Office

    $128.53

    Facility

    $106.24

    $1.54 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 20705

    Office

    $129.48

    Facility

    $106.71

    $2.49 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 20705

    Office

    $122.78

    Facility

    $102.41

    $4.21 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 20705

    Office

    $118.72

    Facility

    $96.68

    $8.27 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 20705

    Office

    $117.63

    Facility

    $97.59

    $9.36 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Austin

    Texas · 20705

    Office

    $129.30

    Facility

    $105.98

    $2.31 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Beaumont

    Texas · 20705

    Office

    $123.30

    Facility

    $103.24

    $3.69 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Brazoria

    Texas · 20705

    Office

    $125.27

    Facility

    $103.42

    $1.72 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Dallas

    Texas · 20705

    Office

    $126.68

    Facility

    $104.72

    $0.31 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Fort Worth

    Texas · 20705

    Office

    $126.43

    Facility

    $104.69

    $0.56 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Galveston

    Texas · 20705

    Office

    $126.04

    Facility

    $104.15

    $0.95 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Houston

    Texas · 20705

    Office

    $133.91

    Facility

    $112.02

    $6.92 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 20705

    Office

    $124.63

    Facility

    $103.71

    $2.36 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 20705

    Office

    $124.17

    Facility

    $103.45

    $2.82 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 20705

    Office

    $123.29

    Facility

    $101.62

    $3.70 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 20705

    Office

    $128.53

    Facility

    $106.24

    $1.54 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 20705

    Office

    $120.73

    Facility

    $98.90

    $6.26 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 20705

    Office

    $128.06

    Facility

    $104.84

    $1.07 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 20705

    Office

    $139.07

    Facility

    $112.02

    $12.08 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 20705

    Office

    $116.48

    Facility

    $95.36

    $10.51 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 20705

    Office

    $128.72

    Facility

    $109.56

    $1.73 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 20705

    Office

    $124.53

    Facility

    $102.48

    $2.46 lower than Madera for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

20705 · Office / nonfacility · Non-QP. Choose a state to explore its payment localities. A range means the amount varies within that state.

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.

$115.12

$159.73

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$159.731
AL$116.561
AR$115.121
AZ$124.831
CA$126.99–$148.6529
CO$128.761
CT$136.051
DC$141.461
DE$126.631
FL$133.56–$152.013
GA$126.29–$132.062
GU$128.211
HI$128.211
IA$115.881
ID$117.191
IL$132.54–$147.574
IN$117.681
KS$116.941
KY$122.181
LA$122.62–$127.632
MA$128.79–$138.042
MD$128.31–$141.463
ME$119.33–$122.572
MI$126.31–$136.582
MN$119.421
MO$121.85–$126.193
MS$118.431
MT$128.231
NC$120.141
ND$119.731
NE$115.961
NH$128.261
NJ$136.48–$140.662
NM$127.511
NV$125.901
NY$121.81–$153.335
OH$124.571
OK$120.371
OR$123.82–$130.562
PA$123.88–$134.092
PR$128.531
RI$129.481
SC$122.781
SD$118.721
TN$117.631
TX$123.30–$133.918
UT$124.171
VA$123.29–$141.462
VI$128.531
VT$120.731
WA$128.06–$139.072
WI$116.481
WV$128.721
WY$124.531

Explore 20705 on the national rate map →

Where does this rate apply?

Madera is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 17 cities and communities in California, including the examples shown here.

Some communities span more than one payment area. Follow a city link to compare all of its mapped areas, or check the service-location ZIP above for an address-level starting point.

Browse all communities in California →

Why are the office and facility amounts different?

For 20705 in Madera, the physician’s office rate is $126.99 and the facility-setting rate is $102.83: a difference of $24.16.

The calculation uses a different practice-expense RVU for each setting. Both amounts here are physician fee-schedule amounts. The facility figure does not include a hospital’s separate charges, so this comparison does not tell you the total cost of receiving care in each setting.

See the inputs behind this difference →

Use this rate

What is a percentage of Medicare worth?

Turn a percentage into dollars for 20705 in Madera. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$139.69

$126.99 × 110% = $139.69

A contract may specify another Medicare year or additional adjustments. This is percentage arithmetic on the displayed base rate, not a claim adjudication.

Working with a whole code list?

Compare an offer across your annual code mix, including an older Medicare schedule or flat per-code rates.

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How this local rate is calculated

Each RVU component is multiplied by its own geographic practice cost index (GPCI). The three adjusted components are added, then multiplied by the conversion factor. These are the inputs used for 20705 in Madera.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,795

Code
20705
Physician work
2.10
Practice expense
1.31
Malpractice
0.43

GPCI2026.csv

14

Locality
Madera
Physician work
1.017
Practice expense
1.096
Malpractice
0.536
Office / nonfacility calculation for 20705 in Madera
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.10× 1.0172.1357
Practice expense1.31× 1.0961.4358
Malpractice0.43× 0.5360.2305
Total RVUs3.8019
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, Madera$126.99

Values as parsed from CMS release RVU26D, effective 2026-10-01. The amount is rounded to the nearest cent only at the end.

Open 20705 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work2.11.017
Practice expense1.311.096
Malpractice0.430.536

(2.1 × 1.017 + 1.31 × 1.096 + 0.43 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $126.99

Facility

Facility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work2.11.017
Practice expense0.651.096
Malpractice0.430.536

(2.1 × 1.017 + 0.65 × 1.096 + 0.43 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $102.83

The office and facility calculations use their respective practice-expense RVUs. The facility amount here is the physician fee, not a separate hospital or facility bill.

How this rate has changed

20705 · Office / nonfacility

$126.99

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $8.55 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $118.44 to $126.99 (7.2%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $118.44changed to$126.99

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 2.15 changed to 2.10
    • Practice expense RVU 1.13 changed to 1.31
    • Malpractice RVU 0.44 changed to 0.43
    • Work GPCI 1.014 changed to 1.017
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.093 changed to 1.096
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.560 changed to 0.536

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    Earliest loaded release: $118.44

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

Explore release dates and calculate this code in an earlier period →

Each row uses the accepted CMS release effective on that date and the same contractor and locality identifiers. Missing rates stay visible. Historical boundaries may differ; verify the service address for an older claim.

Inspect every release and its CMS source
Effective fromOffice / nonfacilityFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$126.99$102.83RVU26D
2026-07-01$126.99$102.83RVU26C
2026-04-01$126.99$102.83RVU26B
2026-01-01$126.99$102.83RVU26A
2025-10-01$118.44$118.44RVU25D
2025-07-01$118.44$118.44RVU25C
2025-04-01$118.44$118.44RVU25B
2025-01-01$118.44$118.44RVU25A

20705 billing questions

Can 20705 be reported by itself?

No. It is an add-on code and must be reported with a primary procedure.

How does 20705 differ from 20703?

20705 is for removal of a drug-delivery device located inside a joint; 20703 is for removal of one located in the intramedullary space.

Is removal of every joint implant reported with 20705?

No. The code concerns an intra-articular device used to deliver medication, such as an antibiotic-containing spacer, not routine removal of a prosthesis or fixation hardware.

What should the operative report document?

Document the device’s drug-delivery purpose, its intra-articular location, its removal, and the primary procedure performed in the same encounter.

Can a joint spacer qualify?

A spacer used to deliver medication may fit when it is removed from the joint. The device’s purpose and location should be clear in the operative documentation.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense, and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indices and the applicable conversion factor. Unavailable or separately priced services are labeled rather than assigned a made-up amount.

Source: RVU26D. Effective 2026-10-01 through the day before 2027-01-01.

RVUs for 20705PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,795 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for MaderaGPCI2026.csv, line 14 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet