Billing code 29505: Splint applicationMedicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Report this service when a clinician applies a long-leg splint to immobilize an injured or unstable lower extremity, including the knee and leg.
Medicare pays $101.79–$113.91 for 29505 in the office in Texas, from Beaumont to Austin. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
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 29505 covers
A long-leg splint supports the lower extremity across the knee, extending from the thigh toward the ankle or foot. Physicians and other qualified clinicians commonly apply it in emergency departments, offices, and hospital settings for acute injuries or fractures, including after reduction, when the knee and leg need immobilization. Unlike a circumferential cast, a splint leaves room for swelling and examination of the limb.
Select the code for the long-leg extent of the applied splint, not for a below-knee splint or knee strapping. Documentation should identify the condition prompting immobilization, the treated side, the extent of the splint, and the application performed. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. For bilateral application, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted; co-surgeons and team surgery are 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 29505 pays more and less in Texas
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
8 payment localities
$101.79 to $113.91
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | $113.91 | $55.95 |
| Beaumont | $101.79 | $51.94 |
| Brazoria | $108.03 | $53.75 |
| Dallas | $108.81 | $54.25 |
| Fort Worth | $108.04 | $54.03 |
| Galveston | $108.41 | $54.01 |
| Houston | $110.79 | $56.39 |
| Rest Of Texas | $104.91 | $52.93 |
How the 29505 rate is calculated
Each of 29505’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 · 29505
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.67Practice expense 2.48Malpractice 0.13
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 29505
The CMS indicators that decide how 29505 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 29505
Splint application
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is 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) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
29505 without 50 · national office
$109.55
Splint application
29505-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$164.33
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).
29505 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
29505 vs 29515 vs 29345 vs 29530: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 29515Splint application
- Choose 29505 when the splint extends above the knee across the thigh and lower leg; 29515 is for a below-knee splint.
- 29345Long-leg cast
- 29505 describes a noncircumferential splint. Use 29345 when the clinician applies a circumferential long-leg cast.
- 29530Knee strapping
- 29530 is knee strapping, not application of a rigid long-leg splint extending across the thigh and lower leg.
29505 billing questions
When should I choose 29505 instead of 29515?
Use 29505 for a splint extending above the knee across the thigh and lower leg. Use 29515 when the splint is limited to the lower leg and foot.
How does 29505 differ from a long-leg cast?
29505 describes a splint, which is not circumferential and allows room for swelling. A long-leg cast code applies when the clinician uses a circumferential cast.
How is bilateral long-leg splint application reported?
For application to both legs, report modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
What documentation supports reporting 29505?
Document the injury or condition requiring immobilization, the treated side, the splint’s long-leg extent, and the application performed.
Is same-day care included in the payment for 29505?
Yes. The code has a 0-day global period, which includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care.
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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