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CPT® 29821, Under Endoscopy/Arthroscopy Procedures on the Musculoskeletal System

The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) code 29821 as maintained by American Medical Association, is a medical procedural code under the range - Endoscopy/Arthroscopy Procedures on the Musculoskeletal System.

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Summary

The provider examines the tissue inside the shoulder joint with an arthroscope to inspect and remove damaged synovial membrane between the bony surfaces and the joint capsule. She inserts instruments and excises all of the synovial tissue in the joint. The provider performs a complete synovectomy for chronic inflammatory conditions causing pain and limitation of motion or to remove a tumor.

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Have a question about CPT Code 29821 ? Start a discussion here
Shoulder debridement coding
I am struggling with Medicare on when(if) to code for debridement. I understand that you can not bill for limited debridement when any other ARTHROSCOPIC procedure is performed, but what if an OPEN pr... [ Read More ]
29820 & 29821 CPT Understanding
Hi everyone, I am still learning the ins-outs of coding and I am a little stuck on this: Is it possible to use 29820 & 29821 at the same time (I know one is partial and other complete) I don't see a... [ Read More ]
Shoulder arthroscopy bundling
I swear I must have a mental block about this issue. While I am aware of some of the history regarding the change that occurred in 2017 I cannot seem to reconcile what it says in the in the CCI Policy... [ Read More ]
Shoulder arthroscopy bundling
[QUOTE="dchenkin, post: 476930, member: 247232"] Thanks. I get that. I would always bundle 29821 into 29823 when reported on the same shoulder. Then I had a recent discussion with a nurse/coder friend... [ Read More ]
Shoulder arthroscopy bundling
Thanks. I get that. I would always bundle 29821 into 29823 when reported on the same shoulder. Then I had a recent discussion with a nurse/coder friend and she said that the language in the Arthroscop... [ Read More ]
Shoulder arthroscopy bundling
29823 would be considered the Column 1 Primary service and 29821 would be Column 2 Secondary and a modifier is allowed to override this relationship per any valid scenarios that you've gone over in yo... [ Read More ]
Shoulder arthroscopy bundling
I cannot seem to square what I see as a contradiction in the NCCI edits with respect to shoulder arthroscopy. According to the change in the policy manual in 2017, “With three exceptions, shoulder a... [ Read More ]
Shoulder Experts
[b]29826 with 29824[/b] The CPT codes that may be reported in conjunction with code 29826 are 29806, 29807, 29819, 29820, 29821, 29822, 29823, 29824, 29825, 29827, and 29828.... [ Read More ]
CPT 29821 and 29824
I have a surgeon that did an arthroscopic complete synovectomy and a Mumford on the same shoulder. In the op note he states he did the synovectomy through a posterior and anterior portal. He then re... [ Read More ]
Arthroscopic shoulder procedure to open procedure
Can someone please help me with this case I am a tad confusion about what I should actually report given this is a medicare patient and 2 of the codes have bundled edits Thank You arthroscopic synov... [ Read More ]
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