CPT code 29887: OCD lesion fixation2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Utah
Arthroscopic drilling and internal fixation treat an intact osteochondritis dissecans lesion when the surgeon aims to promote healing and stabilize the fragment.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 29887 in Utah.
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 29887 covers
An orthopedic surgeon uses knee arthroscopy to drill an intact osteochondritis dissecans lesion and secure it with internal fixation. The procedure is intended to support healing while preserving a fragment that remains suitable for stabilization. It is typically performed in an operating room or ambulatory surgery center for a symptomatic knee lesion that the surgeon elects to treat operatively.
Report this code when the operative record supports both drilling of an intact lesion and internal fixation; document the lesion, laterality, arthroscopic work, and fixation performed. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For related endoscopies performed together, CMS endoscopy-family pricing applies. Bilateral reporting with 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.
29887 in Utah
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | Unavailable | $684.71 |
How the 29887 rate is calculated
Each of 29887’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 · 29887
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work9.91
9.91 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense9.25
9.25 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice2.11
2.11 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
21.2700
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$710.44
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 29887
29887 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 29887
OCD lesion fixation
| 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 · 29887
OCD lesion fixation
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
29887 without 50 · national facility
$710.44
OCD lesion fixation
29887-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,065.66
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).
29887 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 29886Knee arthroscopy
- Use 29886 for drilling an intact osteochondritis dissecans lesion without internal fixation. Use 29887 when the surgeon also fixes the lesion.
- 29885Knee arthroscopy
- This related code describes drilling for an osteochondritis dissecans lesion more generally. 29887 specifically identifies an intact lesion treated with internal fixation.
- 29879Arthroscopic cartilage procedure
- 29879 describes abrasion arthroplasty, a different treatment approach for a cartilage defect. 29887 is for drilling and fixing an intact osteochondritis dissecans lesion.
29887 billing questions
How does this code differ from 29886?
Both concern drilling an intact osteochondritis dissecans lesion. Report 29887 when the surgeon also performs internal fixation; 29886 describes drilling without that fixation.
Can drilling without fixation also be reported separately?
Do not report 29886 in addition for the same lesion when the surgeon drills and fixes it under 29887. The fixation is part of the service represented by 29887.
What documentation supports 29887?
The operative report should identify the intact osteochondritis dissecans lesion and describe arthroscopic drilling and the internal fixation used to stabilize it.
How is bilateral surgery reported?
For bilateral procedures, use modifier 50; CMS pays this code at 150%.
How does the global period affect postoperative billing?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be paid?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. 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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