Open arthrotomy of the elbow with excision and release of the joint capsule, performed to restore motion lost to contracture or arthritis-related capsular thickening.

Verified May 8, 2026 · 8 sources ↓

Medicare: $664.34
Total RVUs: 19.89
Global, days: 90
Region: Elbow

Drawn from CMSAAPCMdclarityFastrvuAAOS

Documentation requirements

What must appear in the operative or office note to support the claim.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 8 cited references ↓

Diagnosis driving surgery: specify arthritis type, contracture severity, or other capsular pathology with ICD-10 code
Failed conservative or less invasive treatment documented prior to surgery
Operative note must name the surgical approach (medial, lateral, or combined) — 'standard approach' flags audits
Extent of capsular excision or release described (anterior, posterior, or circumferential)
Intraoperative findings including degree of contracture, capsular thickness, and any associated pathology addressed
Clinical rationale for open versus arthroscopic technique if payer is likely to scrutinize

Applicable modifiers

Modifiers commonly billed with this code.

Source · AMA CPT modifier descriptors · CMS NCCI Policy Manual

22 Increased complexity 50 Bilateral procedure 51 Multiple procedures 52 Reduced services 59 Distinct service 76 Repeat, same physician 77 Repeat, another physician 78 Unplanned return — related 79 Unrelated during global LT Left side RT Right side

What this code covers

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 8 cited references ↓

CPT 24006 describes an open elbow arthrotomy in which the surgeon incises into the joint and excises or releases the capsule to address severe stiffness, contracture, or arthritis-related capsular pathology. The procedure targets the fibrotic or thickened capsular tissue that restricts flexion, extension, or both. It is performed when conservative measures and arthroscopic options have failed or are insufficient for the degree of contracture present.

The 90-day global period bundles all routine post-op management through day 90. Any visit for a new or unrelated problem during that window requires modifier 24; a separately identifiable E/M on the day of surgery needs modifier 25. Per AAOS bundling guidelines, 24006 is included within elbow ligament repair/reconstruction codes 24343–24346 — billing it separately alongside those codes is incorrect.

Site of service matters here. The HOPD and ASC payment rates differ substantially (see the Site of Service comparison table). When the procedure is planned open from the outset, document that decision and the clinical rationale — payers increasingly scrutinize open elbow releases against arthroscopic alternatives. Bilateral elbow releases in a single session are rare but use modifier 50 and expect payer-specific bilateral payment rules.

RVU & reimbursement

Component RVUs and Medicare national rate. Actual payment varies by GPCI locality.

Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026

Work RVU	9.5
Practice expense RVU	8.46
Malpractice RVU	1.93
Total RVU	19.89
Medicare national rate	$664.34
Global period	90 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	$664.34
HOPD (APC 5113) Hospital outpatient department	$3,342.87
ASC (PI A2) Ambulatory surgical center (freestanding)	$1,644.87

Common denial reasons

The recurring reasons claims for CPT 24006 get rejected.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in CMS NCCI edits, AAOS coding appeals, and cited references ↓

Bundling denial when 24006 is billed alongside 24343–24346 — it is included in those codes per AAOS global service data
Missing or vague operative note failing to document approach and extent of capsular work
Lack of documented conservative treatment failure before authorizing open capsular release
Modifier 24 or 25 omitted for E/M services billed during the 90-day global period
Site-of-service mismatch between claim and facility type submitted

Frequently asked questions

Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 8 cited references ↓

01Is 24006 the right code for an arthroscopic elbow capsular release?

No. CPT 24006 is open surgery only. Arthroscopic elbow capsular release is reported with arthroscopy codes in the 29830 series or, if no specific code applies, 29999 for an unlisted arthroscopic elbow procedure. Using 24006 for a scope case is a misrepresentation of the service.

02Can I bill 24006 with 24343 or 24344 on the same claim?

No. AAOS Global Service Data bundles 24006 into elbow ligament repair/reconstruction codes 24343, 24344, 24345, and 24346. Reporting 24006 separately alongside any of those codes will result in a bundling denial.

03What modifier applies if the patient returns to the OR during the 90-day global for a related elbow problem?

Use modifier 78 for an unplanned return to the OR for a related procedure during the postoperative period. Modifier 79 applies only if the return procedure is unrelated to the original surgery. Do not invert these.

04Does the 90-day global period affect how I bill post-op therapy or injections?

Routine post-op visits are included in the global and cannot be billed separately. Injections into the elbow during the global period for a separate condition require modifier 79. Injections that are part of managing the surgical outcome are bundled.

05When is modifier 22 appropriate for 24006?

Append modifier 22 when the capsular release required substantially more work than typical — for example, severe heterotopic ossification requiring additional takedown, or a multiply-operated elbow with dense adhesions. The operative note must quantify the added complexity; a generic 'difficult case' statement will not support the upcharge.

06How should bilateral elbow capsular releases be billed?

Report 24006 once with modifier 50 for bilateral procedures performed in the same session. Bill on one line. Most payers reimburse at 150% of the single-procedure rate, but verify your payer's bilateral payment policy — commercial carriers vary.

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 surgical approach by name, the specific capsular structures excised or released, intraoperative contracture measurements, and any concurrent procedures performed at the same session. It also flags when the operative note lacks approach documentation — the single most common audit trigger for elbow open capsular releases — and prompts the surgeon to confirm whether additional codes such as synovectomy or nerve transposition are separately reportable or bundled.

See how Mira captures CPT 24006 documentation