Billing code 29901: MCP arthroscopyMedicare rate & RVUs in Utah
Reports arthroscopic removal of part of the inflamed synovial lining in a metacarpophalangeal joint when surgical treatment is performed.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 29901 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 29901 covers
A hand surgeon uses an arthroscope and instruments through small portals to remove part of the synovial lining from a metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint. The procedure may be used for persistent synovitis, including synovial inflammation associated with inflammatory arthritis, when arthroscopic treatment is selected. It is performed in a surgical setting; Medicare reported these services in facility settings in 2024.
Report this code when the operative note supports arthroscopic partial synovectomy of an MCP joint. Document the treated joint, arthroscopic approach, and that the synovectomy was partial rather than complete. Diagnostic inspection of that joint performed as part of the surgical procedure is not separately reported. The code has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 for bilateral surgery is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; 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.
29901 in Utah
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | Unavailable | $503.29 |
How the 29901 rate is calculated
Each of 29901’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 · 29901
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 6.43Practice expense 7.90Malpractice 1.35
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 29901
29901 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 29901
MCP 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 | 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) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| 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 · 29901
MCP 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
29901 without 50 · national facility
$523.73
MCP arthroscopy
29901-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$785.60
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).
29901 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
29901 vs 29900 vs 29902 vs 29999: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 29900Joint arthroscopy
- Use 29900 for diagnostic MCP arthroscopy, with or without synovial biopsy. Use 29901 when partial synovectomy is performed as surgical treatment.
- 29902MCP arthroscopy
- The distinguishing factor is the extent of synovial removal: 29901 is partial, while 29902 is complete.
- 29999Unlisted px arthroscopy
- 29901 specifically describes arthroscopic partial synovectomy of an MCP joint. Consider 29999 only for an arthroscopic service without a specific code.
29901 billing questions
How is this different from 29900?
29900 is for diagnostic MCP arthroscopy, with or without synovial biopsy. Use 29901 when arthroscopy includes partial removal of synovium as treatment.
When would 29902 be reported instead?
29902 represents complete MCP synovectomy. The operative documentation should support the extent performed; partial synovectomy is reported with 29901.
Can diagnostic arthroscopy of the same joint be billed separately?
Diagnostic inspection performed as part of the arthroscopic synovectomy is integral to the surgical service and is not separately reported for that joint and session.
What documentation supports 29901?
Document the MCP joint treated, arthroscopic approach, synovial disease addressed, and partial extent of synovial removal. The note should distinguish partial from complete synovectomy.
How does the global period affect postoperative visits?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. Those included services are part of the surgical package.
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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