Billing code 29835: Elbow arthroscopyMedicare rate & RVUs in Nevada
Reports arthroscopic removal of part of the elbow’s inflamed synovial lining when the surgeon treats synovitis without performing a complete synovectomy.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 29835 in Nevada.
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 29835 covers
The surgeon uses an arthroscope and instruments through small portals to remove a portion of abnormal synovial tissue inside the elbow joint. This procedure may be performed by an orthopedic surgeon in a hospital outpatient department or ambulatory surgery center for conditions such as symptomatic elbow synovitis. The operative report should identify the treated joint and describe the synovial tissue removed and the partial extent of the synovectomy.
Report this code when arthroscopy includes partial synovectomy; a diagnostic inspection alone or removal of non-synovial tissue is a different service. Documentation should support the operative work and distinguish a partial from a complete synovectomy. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When related endoscopies are performed together, endoscopy-family pricing applies. For bilateral surgery, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; co-surgeon payment requires 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.
29835 in Nevada**
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada** | Unavailable | $479.63 |
How the 29835 rate is calculated
Each of 29835’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 · 29835
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work6.45
6.45 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense6.77
6.77 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.36
1.36 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
14.5800
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$486.99
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 29835
29835 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 29835
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 · 29835
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
29835 without 50 · national facility
$486.99
Elbow arthroscopy
29835-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$730.49
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).
29835 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 29836Elbow arthroscopy
- Choose 29835 for partial synovial removal and 29836 when the surgeon performs a complete synovectomy.
- 29830Elbow arthroscopy
- 29830 represents diagnostic elbow arthroscopy; 29835 requires therapeutic removal of part of the synovial lining.
- 29837Elbow arthroscopy
- 29837 is for limited elbow debridement, not partial synovectomy. Select based on the tissue treated and work documented.
- 29838Elbow debridement
- 29838 describes extensive elbow debridement. It is not the code for partial removal of synovial tissue.
29835 billing questions
How does partial synovectomy differ from complete synovectomy?
This code describes removal of part of the elbow synovium. Use 29836 when the surgeon performs a complete synovectomy.
Does diagnostic elbow arthroscopy support this code?
No. This code requires arthroscopic partial removal of synovial tissue; diagnostic inspection alone is represented by 29830.
Can debridement be reported as partial synovectomy?
Not solely because tissue was removed. The operative report must support partial removal of synovium; elbow debridement is described by 29837 or 29838 according to its extent.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How is bilateral elbow surgery handled under the CMS rule?
For bilateral surgery, report modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be paid?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. Co-surgeon payment requires 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 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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