Billing code 29836: Elbow arthroscopyMedicare rate & RVUs in Alaska
Reports arthroscopic removal of synovial tissue throughout the elbow joint when diffuse synovitis requires a complete rather than partial synovectomy.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 29836 in Alaska.
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 9 sections
What 29836 covers
An orthopedic surgeon uses an arthroscope and instruments passed through small portals to remove synovial tissue throughout the elbow joint. The procedure treats diffuse synovial disease, such as persistent inflammatory or proliferative synovitis, when the operative work is a complete synovectomy rather than limited tissue removal. It is typically performed in a hospital outpatient department or ambulatory surgery center; Medicare reported facility services for this code in 2024.
Choose this code when the operative report supports synovectomy throughout the joint, not a partial synovectomy or debridement alone. Documentation should describe the synovial disease and extent of tissue removed. The service has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When related endoscopies are performed together, CMS applies endoscopy-family pricing. Modifier 50 identifies a bilateral procedure, paid at 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons require 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.
29836 in Alaska*
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska* | Unavailable | $668.25 |
How the 29836 rate is calculated
Each of 29836’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 · 29836
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 7.53Practice expense 7.43Malpractice 1.45
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 29836
29836 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 29836
Elbow arthroscopy
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included. |
| Multiple procedures | 3 | Endoscopy family rules apply. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 1 | Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.69/0.21 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 29836
Elbow 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.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
29836 without 50 · national facility
$548.11
Elbow arthroscopy
29836-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$822.17
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).
29836 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
29836 vs 29835 vs 29837 vs 29838 vs 29830: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 29835Elbow arthroscopy
- 29836 represents complete elbow synovectomy; 29835 is for partial synovectomy. Base the choice on the extent documented in the operative report.
- 29837Elbow arthroscopy
- 29837 describes limited arthroscopic elbow debridement, rather than complete synovial-tissue removal.
- 29838Elbow debridement
- 29838 describes extensive arthroscopic elbow debridement. Use 29836 when the operative service is complete synovectomy.
- 29830Elbow arthroscopy
- 29830 is diagnostic elbow arthroscopy. A documented therapeutic complete synovectomy is reported with 29836.
29836 billing questions
How do I distinguish this code from 29835?
Use 29836 for complete synovectomy of the elbow and 29835 for partial synovectomy. The operative report should support the extent performed.
Can diagnostic elbow arthroscopy be reported separately?
Code 29830 describes diagnostic elbow arthroscopy. When a therapeutic synovectomy is performed, report the surgical service supported by the operative work rather than treating the diagnostic inspection as a separate procedure.
What payment rule applies when related endoscopies are performed together?
CMS applies endoscopy-family pricing when related endoscopies are performed together. The claim should reflect the procedures actually documented.
How is a bilateral procedure identified?
Use modifier 50 for a bilateral procedure; CMS pays it at 150%.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
May an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeons are paid only with supporting documentation, and 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
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