Arthroscopic shoulder surgery with limited debridement of one or two discrete structures within the shoulder joint.

Verified May 8, 2026 · 8 sources ↓

Medicare: $516.04
Total RVUs: 15.45
Global, days: 90
Region: Shoulder

Drawn from CMSAAOSAAPCAses-assn

Documentation requirements

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

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 8 cited references ↓

Identify each discrete structure debrided by name — do not write 'limited debridement performed' without specifying which structures (e.g., labrum, biceps anchor, articular cartilage surface).
Count of discrete structures must be documented as one or two to support 29822 versus 29823; three or more structures require 29823.
Operative note must distinguish whether debridement was performed for visualization only versus as a therapeutic intervention on a separate structure — payers and auditors use this distinction to allow or bundle the code.
Document the anatomic compartment where debridement occurred (glenohumeral joint vs. subacromial space) when billing alongside other shoulder arthroscopy codes, as this supports separate reporting arguments.
If billing 29822 with 29806 or 29826, the op note must support that the debrided structure is distinct from the primary procedure's target — a single narrative covering both procedures is insufficient.
Diagnosis linkage: connect 29822 to the specific ICD-10 code for the debrided structure's pathology, not just the shoulder diagnosis driving the primary procedure.

Applicable modifiers

Modifiers commonly billed with this code.

Source · AMA CPT modifier descriptors · CMS NCCI Policy Manual

22 Increased complexity 51 Multiple procedures 59 Distinct service LT Left side RT Right side XS Separate structure

What this code covers

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 8 cited references ↓

29822 covers shoulder arthroscopy with limited debridement — defined as treatment of one or two discrete structures, which may include bone, articular cartilage, labrum, biceps tendon, biceps anchor complex, articular capsule, rotator cuff surface (articular or bursal side), subacromial bursa, or foreign bodies. The 90-day global period applies, covering all routine post-op care through day 90.

The critical bundling rule for this code: CMS NCCI policy explicitly states that limited debridement (29822) is included in all other shoulder arthroscopy procedures — even when the debridement is performed in a different area of the same shoulder than the primary procedure. This is not a case-by-case judgment; it is a standing CMS policy. No modifier overrides this inclusion rule when billing Medicare for 29822 alongside most other shoulder arthroscopy codes. The only exception carved out in NCCI policy involves extensive debridement (29823), not 29822.

When billing 29822 alongside 29826 (acromioplasty add-on) or 29806 (capsulorrhaphy), the NCCI PTP edit indicator is '1', meaning modifier 59 can override the edit — but only if the debridement was a separately identifiable procedure performed on a distinct structure, not simply debridement done for visualization during the primary procedure. For payers that don't follow NCCI, use modifier 51 instead of 59. AAOS GSD supports separate reporting of 29822 with 29806, but the modifier is still required on NCCI-adherent claims. If 29826 is performed as a standalone procedure with no primary arthroscopy code, report 29822 or 29823 in its place rather than using 29826 alone.

RVU & reimbursement

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

Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026

Work RVU	6.85
Practice expense RVU	7.19
Malpractice RVU	1.41
Total RVU	15.45
Medicare national rate	$516.04
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	$516.04
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 29822 get rejected.

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

Bundled into the primary shoulder arthroscopy code under NCCI policy — limited debridement is considered inclusive of all other shoulder arthroscopy procedures when billed to Medicare without a valid separate structure.
Missing or insufficient documentation of which specific structures were debrided; op notes stating 'debridement of shoulder' without naming discrete structures are routinely denied or downcoded.
Modifier 59 appended without documentation supporting a distinctly separate procedure — payers increasingly require clinical justification in the op note, not just the modifier on the claim line.
29822 billed when debridement was performed solely for visualization access during the primary procedure; most payers do not separately reimburse preparatory debridement.
Incorrect use of 29822 when three or more discrete structures were debrided — that work should be reported as 29823, and upcoding or undercoding triggers payer scrutiny.

Frequently asked questions

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

01Can I bill 29822 with 29806 for capsulorrhaphy on the same shoulder?

Yes, but modifier 59 is required for Medicare and NCCI-adherent payers. The NCCI PTP edit between 29806 (Column 1) and 29822 (Column 2) carries a modifier indicator of '1', meaning 59 can override it — provided the op note documents that the debridement targeted a distinct structure separate from the capsulorrhaphy work. AAOS GSD confirms separate reportability; the modifier is the mechanism to get there on NCCI claims.

02Does billing 29822 with 29826 require modifier 59?

It depends on the payer and what the surgeon actually did. For Medicare: NCCI includes limited debridement in shoulder arthroscopy procedures, so 29822 is typically bundled with 29826. If the debridement was a separately identifiable procedure on a distinct structure (e.g., labrum debrided in the glenohumeral joint while the SAD was performed in the subacromial space), 59 can override the edit — but the op note must support it. For non-NCCI payers, use modifier 51.

03What's the structural count threshold between 29822 and 29823?

29822 covers one or two discrete structures. Three or more discrete structures — whether soft tissue, hard tissue, or a combination — requires 29823. ASES guidance notes that a biceps tenotomy can count as one structure toward satisfying this threshold when documented appropriately.

04If a subacromial decompression (29826) is the only procedure performed, should I also bill 29822?

No — it's the opposite. If 29826 is the sole arthroscopic procedure, CPT instructs you to report 29822 (or 29823 if extensive) instead of 29826. The add-on code 29826 requires a primary arthroscopy code from the 29806–29825, 29827, or 29828 range.

05Can 29822 be billed when debridement was done just to improve visualization during another procedure?

No. Most payers — and NCCI policy — treat preparatory debridement performed solely to access the surgical site as included in the primary procedure. To bill 29822 separately, the debridement must be a therapeutic intervention targeting a specific pathologic structure. The op note needs to make that distinction explicit.

06Does the 90-day global period on 29822 affect billing for follow-up shoulder injections or E/M visits?

Yes. The 90-day global includes all routine post-op visits related to the surgery. An E/M for a new or unrelated condition during the global window needs modifier 24. A separate significant E/M on the same day as surgery requires modifier 25 on the E/M code. Injections unrelated to the surgical diagnosis billed in the global period need modifier 79.

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 name of each structure debrided, the anatomic compartment (glenohumeral vs. subacromial), and whether the debridement was therapeutic or performed for visualization access. It flags the discrete structure count so coders can confirm 29822 (one or two) versus 29823 (three or more) without re-reading the full op note. This prevents the most common denial pattern: bundling 29822 into the primary code because the op note didn't document a separately identifiable intervention.

See how Mira captures CPT 29822 documentation