Arthroscopy · Hip

Arthroscopic hip surgery addressing a pincer-type femoroacetabular impingement by reshaping the acetabular rim

Verified May 8, 2026 · 7 sources ↓

Medicare: $932.22
Total RVUs: 27.91
Global, days: 90
Region: Hip

Drawn from CMSAAPCNIHPbnBedrockbilling

Documentation requirements

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

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 7 cited references ↓

Operative note must explicitly identify a pincer-type FAI lesion as the indication — vague 'impingement' language is insufficient for audit defense
Describe the acetabular rim contouring technique in detail, including the extent of bone removal and instruments used
Document intraoperative findings that confirm pincer morphology (e.g., acetabular overcoverage, os acetabuli) distinct from any cam lesion findings
State clearly whether a labral repair (29916) was performed or not — if the labrum was only debrided or left intact, that supports 29915 as the appropriate primary code
Record the surgical intent at the outset of the procedure; post-hoc rationalization of code selection is an audit red flag
Note any concomitant procedures performed (e.g., femoroplasty 29914) and document medical necessity for each separately

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 58 Staged or related 59 Distinct service 74 Discontinued post-anesthesia 78 Unplanned return — related 79 Unrelated during global LT Left side RT Right side

What this code covers

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 7 cited references ↓

CPT 29915 covers arthroscopic acetabuloplasty of the hip — specifically the surgical contouring of the acetabular rim to treat a pincer-type femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) lesion. The surgeon trims or reshapes the overcovering acetabular bone that mechanically conflicts with femoral head-neck motion. This is distinct from femoroplasty (29914), which addresses the cam lesion on the femoral side.

The most critical coding decision with 29915 is its relationship to 29916 (labral repair). CPT instructs that 29916 should not be reported with 29915 — and vice versa. When labral repair is the primary intent of the surgery, bill 29916 only. When acetabuloplasty is the primary intent and no labral repair is performed, bill 29915. NCCI edits treat 29916 as Column 1 and 29915 as Column 2 in their mutually exclusive pair, but the AMA's CPT instruction is stricter: these two codes are not separately reportable under any circumstance. Modifier 59 does not override the CPT bundling instruction, even if an NCCI modifier indicator technically permits it. Choose one code based on the documented primary surgical intent.

Codes 29862 (chondroplasty/labral resection) and 29863 (synovectomy) are also bundled into 29915 and cannot be billed separately on the same operative session. The 90-day global period applies, meaning routine post-op care through day 90 is included. Unrelated same-day evaluation or a separately identifiable E/M requires modifier 25 or 24 as applicable.

RVU & reimbursement

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

Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026

Work RVU	14.63
Practice expense RVU	10.37
Malpractice RVU	2.91
Total RVU	27.91
Medicare national rate	$932.22
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	$932.22
HOPD (APC 5114) Hospital outpatient department	$7,413.38
ASC (PI G2) Ambulatory surgical center (freestanding)	$3,695.53

Common denial reasons

The recurring reasons claims for CPT 29915 get rejected.

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

29915 billed alongside 29916 on the same claim — NCCI mutually exclusive edit fires and payer pays only one, typically the higher-valued code
Modifier 59 appended to 29915 to unbundle from 29916 — the AMA CPT instruction prohibits concurrent reporting regardless of modifier; many payers follow AMA guidance over NCCI modifier indicator
29862 or 29863 billed separately on the same date — both are bundled into 29915 and not separately payable
Lack of documented pincer lesion diagnosis in the pre-op workup or intraoperative findings, triggering medical necessity denial
Procedure performed and billed in the post-op global period of a prior hip arthroscopy without modifier 79 for an unrelated procedure or modifier 78 for a return related to complications

Frequently asked questions

Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 7 cited references ↓

01Can 29915 and 29916 be billed together with modifier 59?

No. CPT instructs that 29916 and 29915 are mutually exclusive — bill one based on the primary surgical intent. Modifier 59 does not override a CPT bundling instruction, and most payers follow the AMA's rule even when the NCCI modifier indicator technically allows unbundling. Pick the code that reflects why the surgeon went in.

02What is the difference between 29914 and 29915?

29914 is femoroplasty — it addresses a cam lesion on the femoral head-neck junction. 29915 is acetabuloplasty — it addresses a pincer lesion on the acetabular rim. They target opposite sides of the FAI impingement. When both are performed in the same session, 29914 and 29915 can be billed together; neither bundles the other.

03Can 29915 be billed with 29863 (synovectomy) on the same claim?

No. Synovectomy (29863) is bundled into 29915 and is not separately reportable when performed in the same hip during the same operative session. The same rule applies to 29862 (chondroplasty/labral resection).

04What global period applies to 29915, and what does that include?

29915 carries a 90-day global period. All routine post-op visits, wound checks, and related care through day 90 are included in the surgical fee. Bill unrelated E/M services in that window with modifier 24, and a separately identifiable same-day E/M with modifier 25.

05If the surgeon performs acetabuloplasty and a labral debridement (not repair) in the same session, which code applies?

Bill 29915. Labral debridement (resection) falls under 29862, which is bundled into 29915. Since no labral repair (29916) was performed, 29915 is the correct primary code and 29862 cannot be added separately.

06Is 29915 appropriate for bilateral hip acetabuloplasty performed in a single session?

Yes. Report 29915 with modifier 50 for bilateral same-session procedures, or with LT and RT on separate claim lines per payer preference. Confirm bilateral billing policy with the specific payer before submitting.

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 surgeon's dictated identification of the pincer lesion, the specific acetabular rim reshaping technique, and the explicit statement that labral repair was not performed — or that acetabuloplasty was the primary surgical intent when both pathologies were present. This prevents the most common audit trigger for 29915: operative notes that document labral work without clearly establishing which procedure drove the operative plan, leaving coders unable to defend the code selection when 29916 is also on the claim.

See how Mira captures CPT 29915 documentation