$309.92–$352.73
Use 29040 when the body cast includes the head. Code 29035 covers the shoulder-to-hip cast without head inclusion.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
29040 Body cast Medicare reimbursement rates in Washington
Reports application of a body cast extending from the shoulders to the hips with head immobilization, such as a Minerva-type cast for spinal stability. Compare 29040 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities in Washington.
Amounts below use the non-QP conversion factor for participating physicians. These are base physician payments before claim-level adjustments, not patient costs or total hospital charges.
What does Medicare pay for 29040 in Washington?
Washington has 2 payment localities in this comparison. Use the service location to choose the applicable amount. These are the supported base rates for the 2 payment areas shown below, using the same CMS release.
Office / nonfacility
$350.06–$397.45
2 of 2 localities have a supported rate.
Facility setting
$166.47–$183.52
2 of 2 localities have a supported rate.
These are locality ranges, not averages or address-specific quotes. A facility-setting amount covers the physician service; it does not include a hospital’s separate bill. Choose a locality below to inspect its calculation, compare other payment areas, or price a percentage of Medicare.
Orthopedic casting
About 29040: Body cast with head immobilization
Reports application of a body cast extending from the shoulders to the hips with head immobilization, such as a Minerva-type cast for spinal stability.
This service covers applying a rigid body cast from the shoulder region to the hips with the head included for immobilization. An orthopedic surgeon or other qualified clinician may apply this type of cast when a patient needs substantial stabilization of the head, neck, and trunk, such as for selected cervical or upper spinal conditions. The work involves molding and fitting the cast to support the intended alignment and restrict movement.
Report the code when the documented cast includes the head and extends to the hips; a body cast without head inclusion or one extending onto a thigh has a different code. Record the treated condition and the cast’s anatomical extent so the distinction is clear. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When other procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity.
CMS billing rules for 29040
- Global period
- Minor procedure with a 0-day global period: same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included.
- Multiple procedures
- Standard multiple procedure reduction: the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50% when performed in the same session.
- Bilateral procedures
- Bilateral adjustment does not apply; the descriptor or anatomy makes modifier 50 inappropriate.
- Assistant at surgery
- Assistant at surgery is paid only with documentation of medical necessity.
- Co-surgeons
- Co-surgeons not permitted.
- Team surgery
- Team surgery not permitted.
Where the value comes from
- Work RVU2.16 · 21%
- Practice expense (office) RVU7.55 · 74%
- Malpractice RVU0.45 · 4%
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.
29040 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Washington, from the same CMS release.
$344.75–$391.70
Use 29044 when the body cast also extends onto one thigh; 29040 includes the head and ends at the hips.
$375.54–$426.25
Use 29046 when the cast extends onto both thighs. Code 29040 describes head inclusion rather than extension onto the thighs.
$477.68–$544.94
Code 29000 describes a halo-type body cast. Code 29040 describes a body cast that includes the head, without specifying a halo method.
Compare 29040 by payment locality
Find the payment area for your service address, then open its rate page for calculation inputs, release history and the percentage-of-Medicare tool. A city may cross payment-area boundaries; the ZIP lookup above helps resolve the location.
2 of 2 payment localities
Rest Of Washington →
Office / nonfacility
$350.06
Facility
$166.47
Seattle (King Cnty) →
Office / nonfacility
$397.45
Facility
$183.52
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29040 billing questions
How does this differ from 29035?
This code is for a body cast that includes the head. Code 29035 describes a body cast from the shoulders to the hips without head inclusion.
When should 29044 or 29046 be considered instead?
Those codes describe body casts extending onto one thigh or both thighs, respectively. Choose based on the cast’s actual anatomical extent.
Is same-day postoperative care included?
Yes. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full; other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction.
Can an assistant-at-surgery be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is available only when medical necessity is documented.
Can modifier 50 be used for a cast applied bilaterally?
No. Bilateral adjustment does not apply because the descriptor and anatomy make modifier 50 inappropriate.
Where these rates come from
FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense, and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indices and the applicable conversion factor. Unavailable or separately priced services are labeled rather than assigned a made-up amount.
Source: RVU26D. Effective 2026-10-01 through the day before 2027-01-01.
3,26329010,,Appl risser jacket body only,A,,2.01,7.06,,2.15,,0.43,9.50,4.59,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,26429015,,Appl rissr jacket bdy w/head,A,,2.35,7.28,,2.26,,0.48,10.11,5.09,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,26529035,,Appl body cast sho to hips,A,,1.73,6.88,,2.06,,0.37,8.98,4.16,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,26629040,,Appl bdy cst sho to hip head,A,,2.16,7.55,,2.33,,0.45,10.16,4.94,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,26729044,,Appl bdy cst sho to hip 1thi,A,,2.07,7.50,,2.30,,0.43,10.00,4.80,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,26829046,,Appl bdy cst sho to hip b th,A,,2.35,8.07,,2.52,,0.48,10.90,5.35,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,26929049,,Appl cast figure-of-eight,A,,0.87,2.35,,0.95,,0.19,3.41,2.01,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00