No office rate
Use 29873 for an arthroscopic lateral release and 27425 when the release is performed through an open approach.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
29873 in Merced
Office / nonfacility
Not available in this setting
Base rate per service
Facility setting
$531.46
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 29873: Arthroscopic lateral patellar release
Arthroscopic lateral release treats patellar maltracking or lateral compression by dividing tight lateral retinacular tissue during knee surgery.
This procedure uses a knee arthroscope and instruments to release tight tissue along the outer side of the patella, reducing lateral restraint when patellar tracking or tilt is the surgical problem. Orthopedic surgeons perform it in an operating room, commonly for symptomatic patellar maltracking or lateral compression. The operative report should identify the lateral retinacular release rather than only diagnostic inspection or work on cartilage, synovium, or meniscus.
Report the arthroscopic release actually performed, supported by the indication, laterality, arthroscopic findings, and operative description. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. If related endoscopies are performed together, endoscopy-family pricing applies. For bilateral reporting, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery; co-surgeons are paid only with supporting documentation, and team surgery is not permitted.
CMS billing rules for 29873
- Global period
- Major surgery with a 90-day global period: the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included.
- Multiple procedures
- Endoscopy family pricing applies when related endoscopies are performed together.
- Bilateral procedures
- Bilateral procedure with modifier 50 is paid at 150%.
- Assistant at surgery
- Statutory restriction: assistant at surgery is not paid.
- Co-surgeons
- Co-surgeons paid only with supporting documentation.
- Team surgery
- Team surgery not permitted.
Where the value comes from
- Work RVU6.08 · 39%
- Practice expense (office) RVU8.26 · 53%
- Malpractice RVU1.26 · 8%
1.5K
Medicare services in 2024 · #2648 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.
29873 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Merced, from the same CMS release.
$628.15
29870 describes diagnostic knee arthroscopy. Use 29873 when the surgeon performs a therapeutic lateral retinacular release.
No office rate
29875 addresses limited synovial tissue removal; 29873 addresses release of lateral retinacular tissue to treat patellar restraint or tracking.
No office rate
29877 describes arthroscopic cartilage debridement or shaving. It does not represent a lateral retinacular release.
The same code, a different location
How does Merced compare?
29873 across payment areas
Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0
Merced · This locality
Unavailable
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Other payment areas listed in California appear first, followed by selected cross-country examples. The chart compares amounts, not distance.
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
Madera
California · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$531.46
No comparable office rate is available.
Modesto
California · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$531.46
No comparable office rate is available.
Napa
California · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$600.88
No comparable office rate is available.
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura
California · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$561.09
No comparable office rate is available.
Redding
California · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$531.46
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of California
California · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$531.46
No comparable office rate is available.
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
California · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$545.01
No comparable office rate is available.
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
California · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$553.81
No comparable office rate is available.
Salinas
California · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$551.69
No comparable office rate is available.
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
California · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$561.95
No comparable office rate is available.
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)
California · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$630.69
No comparable office rate is available.
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty)
California · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$629.26
No comparable office rate is available.
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty)
California · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$645.81
No comparable office rate is available.
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty)
California · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$639.96
No comparable office rate is available.
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
California · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$543.33
No comparable office rate is available.
Santa Cruz-Watsonville
California · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$565.11
No comparable office rate is available.
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
California · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$553.01
No comparable office rate is available.
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
California · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$570.52
No comparable office rate is available.
Stockton
California · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$531.46
No comparable office rate is available.
Vallejo
California · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$598.81
No comparable office rate is available.
Visalia
California · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$531.46
No comparable office rate is available.
Yuba City
California · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$531.46
No comparable office rate is available.
Dc + Md/Va Suburbs
District of Columbia · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$585.88
No comparable office rate is available.
Miami
Florida · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$596.71
No comparable office rate is available.
Chicago
Illinois · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$578.36
No comparable office rate is available.
Manhattan
New York · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$603.41
No comparable office rate is available.
Alaska*
Alaska · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$621.63
No comparable office rate is available.
Alabama
Alabama · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$468.30
No comparable office rate is available.
Arkansas
Arkansas · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$461.74
No comparable office rate is available.
Arizona
Arizona · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$506.44
No comparable office rate is available.
Colorado
Colorado · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$531.93
No comparable office rate is available.
Connecticut
Connecticut · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$555.20
No comparable office rate is available.
Delaware
Delaware · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$514.51
No comparable office rate is available.
Fort Lauderdale
Florida · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$558.65
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Florida
Florida · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$530.08
No comparable office rate is available.
Atlanta
Georgia · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$534.54
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Georgia
Georgia · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$499.34
No comparable office rate is available.
Hawaii, Guam
Hawaii · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$541.13
No comparable office rate is available.
Iowa
Iowa · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$472.23
No comparable office rate is available.
Idaho
Idaho · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$476.80
No comparable office rate is available.
East St. Louis
Illinois · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$541.66
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Illinois
Illinois · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$520.75
No comparable office rate is available.
Suburban Chicago
Illinois · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$562.41
No comparable office rate is available.
Indiana
Indiana · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$479.28
No comparable office rate is available.
Kansas
Kansas · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$473.69
No comparable office rate is available.
Kentucky
Kentucky · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$486.85
No comparable office rate is available.
New Orleans
Louisiana · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$510.50
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Louisiana
Louisiana · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$487.56
No comparable office rate is available.
Metropolitan Boston
Massachusetts · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$578.27
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Massachusetts
Massachusetts · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$530.38
No comparable office rate is available.
Baltimore/Surr. Cntys
Maryland · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$554.42
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Maryland
Maryland · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$522.94
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Maine
Maine · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$483.07
No comparable office rate is available.
Southern Maine
Maine · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$503.04
No comparable office rate is available.
Detroit
Michigan · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$540.27
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Michigan
Michigan · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$502.48
No comparable office rate is available.
Minnesota
Minnesota · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$499.43
No comparable office rate is available.
Metropolitan Kansas City
Missouri · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$503.26
No comparable office rate is available.
Metropolitan St. Louis
Missouri · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$507.90
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Missouri
Missouri · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$481.89
No comparable office rate is available.
Mississippi
Mississippi · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$471.72
No comparable office rate is available.
Montana**
Montana · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$520.97
No comparable office rate is available.
North Carolina
North Carolina · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$487.38
No comparable office rate is available.
North Dakota**
North Dakota · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$496.06
No comparable office rate is available.
Nebraska
Nebraska · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$473.63
No comparable office rate is available.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$527.10
No comparable office rate is available.
Northern Nj
New Jersey · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$580.85
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of New Jersey
New Jersey · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$558.64
No comparable office rate is available.
New Mexico
New Mexico · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$506.61
No comparable office rate is available.
Nevada**
Nevada · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$514.30
No comparable office rate is available.
Nyc Suburbs/Long Island
New York · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$622.26
No comparable office rate is available.
Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs
New York · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$565.24
No comparable office rate is available.
Queens
New York · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$602.86
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of New York
New York · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$494.76
No comparable office rate is available.
Ohio
Ohio · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$497.39
No comparable office rate is available.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$482.15
No comparable office rate is available.
Portland
Oregon · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$544.15
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Oregon
Oregon · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$507.45
No comparable office rate is available.
Metropolitan Philadelphia
Pennsylvania · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$544.14
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$496.12
No comparable office rate is available.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$523.46
No comparable office rate is available.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$529.47
No comparable office rate is available.
South Carolina
South Carolina · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$493.77
No comparable office rate is available.
South Dakota**
South Dakota · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$493.11
No comparable office rate is available.
Tennessee
Tennessee · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$476.46
No comparable office rate is available.
Austin
Texas · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$532.66
No comparable office rate is available.
Beaumont
Texas · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$493.24
No comparable office rate is available.
Brazoria
Texas · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$510.94
No comparable office rate is available.
Dallas
Texas · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$515.80
No comparable office rate is available.
Fort Worth
Texas · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$513.59
No comparable office rate is available.
Galveston
Texas · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$513.51
No comparable office rate is available.
Houston
Texas · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$536.57
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Texas
Texas · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$502.90
No comparable office rate is available.
Utah
Utah · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$500.21
No comparable office rate is available.
Virginia
Virginia · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$503.99
No comparable office rate is available.
Virgin Islands
United States Virgin Islands · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$523.46
No comparable office rate is available.
Vermont
Vermont · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$497.51
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Washington
Washington · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$528.26
No comparable office rate is available.
Seattle (King Cnty)
Washington · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$586.13
No comparable office rate is available.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$480.34
No comparable office rate is available.
West Virginia
West Virginia · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$503.05
No comparable office rate is available.
Wyoming**
Wyoming · 29873
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$510.11
No comparable office rate is available.
See how rates vary across the country
29873 · Office / nonfacility · Non-QP. Choose a state to explore its payment localities. A range means the amount varies within that state.
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 all state and territory rates as a table
| State / territory | Rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | No published base rate | 1 |
| AL | No published base rate | 1 |
| AR | No published base rate | 1 |
| AZ | No published base rate | 1 |
| CA | No published base rate | 29 |
| CO | No published base rate | 1 |
| CT | No published base rate | 1 |
| DC | No published base rate | 1 |
| DE | No published base rate | 1 |
| FL | No published base rate | 3 |
| GA | No published base rate | 2 |
| GU | No published base rate | 1 |
| HI | No published base rate | 1 |
| IA | No published base rate | 1 |
| ID | No published base rate | 1 |
| IL | No published base rate | 4 |
| IN | No published base rate | 1 |
| KS | No published base rate | 1 |
| KY | No published base rate | 1 |
| LA | No published base rate | 2 |
| MA | No published base rate | 2 |
| MD | No published base rate | 3 |
| ME | No published base rate | 2 |
| MI | No published base rate | 2 |
| MN | No published base rate | 1 |
| MO | No published base rate | 3 |
| MS | No published base rate | 1 |
| MT | No published base rate | 1 |
| NC | No published base rate | 1 |
| ND | No published base rate | 1 |
| NE | No published base rate | 1 |
| NH | No published base rate | 1 |
| NJ | No published base rate | 2 |
| NM | No published base rate | 1 |
| NV | No published base rate | 1 |
| NY | No published base rate | 5 |
| OH | No published base rate | 1 |
| OK | No published base rate | 1 |
| OR | No published base rate | 2 |
| PA | No published base rate | 2 |
| PR | No published base rate | 1 |
| RI | No published base rate | 1 |
| SC | No published base rate | 1 |
| SD | No published base rate | 1 |
| TN | No published base rate | 1 |
| TX | No published base rate | 8 |
| UT | No published base rate | 1 |
| VA | No published base rate | 2 |
| VI | No published base rate | 1 |
| VT | No published base rate | 1 |
| WA | No published base rate | 2 |
| WI | No published base rate | 1 |
| WV | No published base rate | 1 |
| WY | No published base rate | 1 |
Where does this rate apply?
Merced is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 24 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.
Use this rate
What is a percentage of Medicare worth?
Turn a percentage into dollars for 29873 in Merced. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.
Reference amount per service
$584.61
$531.46 × 110% = $584.61
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.
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 29873 in Merced.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
3,355
- Code
- 29873
- Physician work
- 6.08
- Practice expense
- 8.26
- Malpractice
- 1.26
GPCI2026.csv
15
- Locality
- Merced
- Physician work
- 1.017
- Practice expense
- 1.096
- Malpractice
- 0.536
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 6.08 | × 1.017 | 6.1834 |
| Practice expense | 8.26 | × 1.096 | 9.0530 |
| Malpractice | 1.26 | × 0.536 | 0.6754 |
| Total RVUs | 15.9117 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Facility rate, Merced$531.46
Open 29873 in the RVU calculator →
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Facility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 6.08 | 1.017 |
| Practice expense | 8.26 | 1.096 |
| Malpractice | 1.26 | 0.536 |
(6.08 × 1.017 + 8.26 × 1.096 + 1.26 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $531.46
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
29873 · Office / nonfacility
Rate unavailable
Effective 2026-10-01
A rate is unavailable in one of these releases, so a change cannot be calculated.
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
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 from | Office / nonfacility | Facility | CMS release |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $531.46 | RVU26D |
| 2026-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $531.46 | RVU26C |
| 2026-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $531.46 | RVU26B |
| 2026-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $531.46 | RVU26A |
| 2025-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $548.33 | RVU25D |
| 2025-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $548.33 | RVU25C |
| 2025-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $548.33 | RVU25B |
| 2025-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $548.33 | RVU25A |
29873 billing questions
How does this differ from an open lateral release?
This code describes release performed arthroscopically. CPT 27425 is the open approach to lateral retinacular release.
Can it be reported with a meniscectomy or chondroplasty?
It may be reported with separately performed arthroscopic work when the operative report supports each service. CMS applies endoscopy-family pricing when related endoscopies are performed together.
What does the 90-day global period include?
The global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How is bilateral surgery reported?
For a bilateral procedure, modifier 50 is paid at 150% under the CMS rule for this code.
May an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeons are paid only with 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 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.
3,35229868,,Meniscal trnspl knee w/scpe,A,,24.47,15.62,NA,15.62,,5.19,45.28,45.28,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,35329870,,Arthrs knee dx w/wo syn bx,A,,5.06,11.96,,5.88,,1.03,18.05,11.97,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,1,1,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,35429871,,Arthrs knee surg for infctj,A,,6.52,6.84,NA,6.84,,1.35,14.71,14.71,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,3,1,1,0,0,9,29870,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,35529873,,Arthrs knee surg w/lat rls,A,,6.08,8.26,NA,8.26,,1.26,15.60,15.60,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,3,1,1,1,0,9,29870,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,35629874,,Arthrs knee surg rmv loos/fb,A,,7.01,6.72,NA,6.72,,1.42,15.15,15.15,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,3,1,0,0,0,9,29870,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,35729875,,Arthrs knee surg synvct lmtd,A,,6.29,6.60,NA,6.60,,1.31,14.20,14.20,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,3,1,0,0,0,9,29870,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,35829876,,Arthrs knee surg synvct maj,A,,8.65,7.99,NA,7.99,,1.77,18.41,18.41,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,3,1,1,0,0,9,29870,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1201112,CA,57,HANFORD-CORCORAN,1.017,1.096,0.536
1301182,CA,18,LOS ANGELES-LONG BEACH-ANAHEIM (LOS ANGELES/ORANGE CNTY),1.041,1.183,0.664
1401112,CA,58,MADERA,1.017,1.096,0.536
1501112,CA,59,MERCED,1.017,1.096,0.536
1601112,CA,60,MODESTO,1.017,1.096,0.536
1701112,CA,51,NAPA,1.063,1.318,0.508
1801182,CA,17,OXNARD-THOUSAND OAKS-VENTURA,1.028,1.182,0.623