Arthroscopy, shoulder, surgical; with rotator cuff repair

CPT 29827 is the billing code for "Arthroscopy, shoulder, surgical; with rotator cuff repair". For surgical shoulder arthroscopy with rotator cuff repair

Medicare pays approximately $1050.29 for CPT 29827 (national average). Actual payment varies by geographic location due to GPCI adjustments. Hospital and commercial insurance rates are typically 2-4x higher than Medicare rates.

CPT 29827 has a total RVU of 42.55, broken down as: Work RVU 18.50, Practice Expense RVU 22.20, and Malpractice RVU 1.85. RVUs (Relative Value Units) determine Medicare reimbursement rates.

Key documentation requirements for CPT 29827 include: Indication for rotator cuff repair; Location and size of tear; Repair technique; Anchors used. Missing or incomplete documentation is a leading cause of claim denials for this code.

Bundling considerations for CPT 29827: Includes surgical arthroscopy. Includes rotator cuff repair Use an NCCI bundling checker to verify specific code combinations before billing.

Common modifiers for CPT 29827 include: 50 (Bilateral procedure when both shoulders performed same session), 51 (Multiple procedures performed same session), 22 (Increased procedural services for complex repair). Modifiers indicate special circumstances and can affect reimbursement or prevent claim denials.

The typical time requirement for CPT 29827 is 90-120 minutes typical operative time. Time-based codes require documentation of the actual time spent providing the service.