Billing code 29888: ACL surgeryMedicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
Reports arthroscopically assisted repair, augmentation, or reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament, typically for knee instability after an ACL injury.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 29888 in Illinois.
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 29888 covers
An orthopedic surgeon uses arthroscopic visualization to repair, augment, or reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament, commonly to address instability after an ACL tear. Reconstruction often uses a tendon graft, with the procedure performed in an operating room in a hospital or ambulatory surgery center. The operative report should identify the ACL procedure and describe the work performed; a diagnostic arthroscopy or treatment limited to a meniscal tear is not this service.
Report the code for the arthroscopically assisted ACL procedure, with documentation supporting the ligament treated and the operative technique. It has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. In a session with multiple procedures, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. For bilateral performance, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons are paid only with 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 29888 pays more and less in Illinois
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | Unavailable | $1,012.90 |
| East St. Louis | Unavailable | $955.68 |
| Rest Of Illinois | Unavailable | $912.08 |
| Suburban Chicago | Unavailable | $972.35 |
How the 29888 rate is calculated
Each of 29888’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 · 29888
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 13.94Practice expense 9.95Malpractice 2.74
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 29888
29888 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 29888
ACL surgery
| 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 | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| 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 · 29888
ACL surgery
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
29888 without 50 · national facility
$889.47
ACL surgery
29888-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,334.21
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).
29888 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
29888 vs 29889 vs 29882 vs 29883: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 29889PCL surgery
- This code addresses the anterior cruciate ligament. Use 29889 for arthroscopically assisted treatment of the posterior cruciate ligament.
- 29882Meniscus repair
- Code 29882 reports arthroscopic repair of a meniscus, not ACL treatment. A separately treated meniscal tear can be documented alongside an ACL procedure.
- 29883Meniscus repair
- Code 29883 is for arthroscopic repair of both the medial and lateral menisci. It does not describe ACL repair or reconstruction.
29888 billing questions
How does this differ from code 29889?
Code 29888 is for arthroscopically assisted ACL treatment; 29889 is for the posterior cruciate ligament. The operative report should identify which ligament was treated.
Can a meniscal procedure be reported during the same session?
A distinct meniscal repair or meniscectomy may be performed with ACL surgery. Document the separate meniscal work; same-session procedures are subject to the multiple-procedure payment rule.
Does the 90-day global include routine postoperative care?
Yes. The global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeons are paid only when supporting documentation is provided; team surgery is not permitted.
How is bilateral ACL surgery handled?
For bilateral performance, modifier 50 is paid at 150% under the CMS rule supplied for this code.
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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