Application of a dynamic (spring- or elastic-tension-driven) splint to a finger to restore joint range of motion through sustained low-load stretch.
Verified May 8, 2026 · 5 sources ↓
- Medicare
- $59.45
- Work RVU
- 0.54
- Global, days
- 0
- Region
- Hand
Documentation requirements
What must appear in the operative or office note to support the claim.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in 5 cited references ↓
- Specify which finger(s) and which hand (laterality) in the note
- Document the clinical indication — fracture, dislocation, tendon injury, post-surgical contracture, or stiffness — to support medical necessity
- Describe the type of dynamic splint applied and the tension mechanism (spring, elastic band, outrigger) and how it was fitted and adjusted
- Record baseline and target range of motion to justify dynamic rather than static splinting
- Note any pre-application imaging or assessment findings that informed splint selection
- If billing a same-day E&M, document a separately identifiable problem or decision distinct from the splint application itself
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 5 cited references ↓
29131 covers fitting and applying a dynamic finger splint — one that uses springs, elastic bands, or other tension components to apply continuous or intermittent force across a stiff finger joint. The goal is progressive improvement in range of motion after fracture, dislocation, tendon repair, or post-surgical contracture. Unlike static splints, dynamic designs allow controlled movement while maintaining corrective tension.
The 000-day global period means no post-application visits are bundled. Each encounter at which a new dynamic splint is applied or significantly refitted is separately billable. If you're also providing an E&M service at the same visit, it must be significant and separately identifiable — global surgery rules for 000-day procedures prohibit billing an E&M tied solely to the decision to apply the splint. Use modifier 25 on the E&M when a distinct, documented reason supports it.
This code sits in the casting/splinting/strapping section. Per CMS NCCI policy, when a hospital treats a finger injury with a splint as the initial service and no other definitive procedure is performed, 29131 is the appropriate code, and splint supply costs are included in the procedure payment — they are not separately billable under OPPS.
RVU & reimbursement
Component RVUs and Medicare national rate. Actual payment varies by GPCI locality.
Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026
Work RVU vs. total RVU
The work RVU (0.54) is the surgeon's own effort — the figure physician pay and productivity targets are built on. The total RVU (1.78) adds practice overhead and malpractice, and is what drives the Medicare payment below.
| Work RVU | 0.54 |
| Practice expense RVU | 1.16 |
| Malpractice RVU | 0.08 |
| Total RVU | 1.78 |
| Medicare national rate | $59.45 |
| Global period | 0 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 | $59.45 |
HOPD (APC 5733) Hospital outpatient department | $60.27 |
Common denial reasons
The recurring reasons claims for CPT 29131 get rejected.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in CMS NCCI edits, AAOS coding appeals, and cited references ↓
- Laterality missing — payer rejects claim when no LT/RT modifier is appended and the finger is not specified in the note
- E&M billed same-day without modifier 25, triggering a global surgery bundling edit
- Splint supplies billed separately under OPPS when they are already included in the procedure payment
- Medical necessity not established — documentation says 'splint applied' without a diagnosis linking to the indication for dynamic versus static splinting
- Repeat application billed without modifier 76 or 77, causing duplicate claim rejection
Frequently asked questions
Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 5 cited references ↓
01What makes a splint 'dynamic' for purposes of 29131?
02Can I bill 29131 for multiple fingers on the same hand at the same visit?
03Is modifier 50 appropriate for bilateral dynamic finger splints?
04Can I bill an E&M on the same day as 29131?
05Does the 000-day global period mean each follow-up adjustment is separately billable?
06Should I bill for splint supplies separately?
Sources & references
Editorial content was developed using the following public sources. Last verified May 8, 2026.
Mira Scribe
Mira's AI scribe captures the finger number and hand laterality, splint type and tension mechanism, clinical indication, and current range-of-motion measurements directly from dictation. That prevents the two most common denials for this code: missing laterality and an undocumented medical necessity link between the diagnosis and the choice of dynamic over static splinting.
See how Mira captures CPT 29131 documentation