Removal of an intra-articular drug delivery device from a joint, reported as an add-on to the primary procedure code.
Verified May 8, 2026 · 4 sources ↓
- Medicare
- $128.26
- Total RVUs
- 3.84
- Global, days
- Region
- General
Documentation requirements
What must appear in the operative or office note to support the claim.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in 4 cited references ↓
- Identify the specific joint from which the device was removed (e.g., knee, hip, shoulder).
- Name the intra-articular drug delivery device type and confirm it was previously implanted.
- Document the primary procedure performed at the same encounter and its CPT code linkage.
- Describe the removal technique as a discrete surgical step within the operative note.
- Record the laterality of the joint (right or left) to support modifier use if applicable.
Applicable modifiers
Modifiers commonly billed with this code.
Source · AMA CPT modifier descriptors · CMS NCCI Policy Manual
What this code covers
Source · Editorial summary grounded in 4 cited references ↓
CPT 20705 covers the manual removal of a previously placed intra-articular drug delivery device from a joint. It is an add-on code — never reported alone. Always pair it with the primary procedure code that describes the surgical encounter during which the device is extracted.
This code sits in the 20700–20705 family, which addresses manual preparation, insertion, and removal of drug delivery devices at various tissue depths. Code 20704 covers insertion of an intra-articular device; 20705 covers its removal. The ZZZ global period means the code has no standalone global period of its own — it inherits the global period of the primary procedure it is appended to.
Because 20705 is always secondary, modifier selection and bundling edits flow from the primary code. Check NCCI PTP edits for the specific primary procedure pairing before submitting. Documentation must clearly identify the device type, the joint involved, and confirm the removal was performed as a distinct step within the primary procedure.
RVU & reimbursement
Component RVUs and Medicare national rate. Actual payment varies by GPCI locality.
Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026
| Work RVU | 2.1 |
| Practice expense RVU | 1.31 |
| Malpractice RVU | 0.43 |
| Total RVU | 3.84 |
| Medicare national rate | $128.26 |
| Global period | days |
Payment by site of service
Medicare pays different rates by setting. HOPD typically pays substantially more than ASC for the same procedure.
Source · CMS OPPS Addendum B·ASC HCPCS payment rates·2026
| Setting | Medicare rate (national) |
|---|---|
Office (PFS non-facility) Procedure performed in physician's office | $128.26 |
Common denial reasons
The recurring reasons claims for CPT 20705 get rejected.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in CMS NCCI edits, AAOS coding appeals, and cited references ↓
- Billing 20705 as a standalone code rather than as an add-on to a primary procedure.
- Failure to link 20705 to a primary procedure code on the same claim, triggering an unbundling edit.
- Missing or vague operative note documentation that does not confirm device removal as a separate step.
- Incorrect laterality modifier or absent laterality documentation when payer requires it.
- Primary procedure denied or down-coded, causing 20705 to be rejected as unsubstantiated.
Frequently asked questions
Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 4 cited references ↓
01Can CPT 20705 be billed without a primary procedure code?
02What is the global period for CPT 20705?
03How does 20705 differ from 20704?
04Do I need a laterality modifier on 20705?
05Is 20705 subject to NCCI bundling edits?
06What modifier applies if the removal occurs during a planned staged procedure in the postoperative period of the primary surgery?
Sources & references
Editorial content was developed using the following public sources. Last verified May 8, 2026.
Mira AI Scribe
Mira's AI scribe captures the joint name, device description, and the specific removal step from dictation, then flags when 20705 is dictated without a linked primary procedure code. That prevents submission as a standalone code — the most common reason this add-on is denied outright.
See how Mira captures CPT 20705 documentation