M06.29

Rheumatoid bursitis affecting two or more anatomically distinct joint sites simultaneously, classified under other rheumatoid arthritis (M06) when bursal inflammation is the primary manifestation across multiple regions.

Verified May 8, 2026 · 7 sources ↓

Status: Billable
Chapter: 13
Related CPT: 9
Region: Multi-region

Drawn from CDCICD10DataCMSPayerreadyNIH

Documentation tips

What should appear in the chart to support M06.29.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 7 cited references ↓

Identify each affected bursal site by name and laterality (e.g., right subacromial bursa, left trochanteric bursa) — 'multiple joints' alone is insufficient.
Record the clinical findings supporting bursitis at each site: focal tenderness, fluctuance, ultrasound or MRI confirmation of bursal fluid/thickening.
Document the rheumatoid etiology explicitly — note the underlying RA diagnosis, serostatus (RF/anti-CCP), and how it relates to the bursal inflammation.
If imaging was performed, include the modality, date, and relevant finding (e.g., 'ultrasound confirms distended subacromial and olecranon bursae bilaterally').
For HCC risk-adjustment purposes, the diagnosis must be documented and coded at least once per calendar year to count toward the patient's RAF.

Related CPT procedures

Procedure codes commonly billed with M06.29. Linking the right diagnosis to the right procedure is what establishes medical necessity.

Source · CMS LCDs · AAOS specialty guidance · claims-pattern analysis

20610 $68.81

Aspiration and/or injection of a major joint or bursa (shoulder, hip, knee, or subacromial bursa) performed without ultrasound guidance.

20600 $56.11

Needle aspiration and/or injection of a small joint or bursa — such as a finger or toe joint — performed without ultrasound guidance.

20605 $57.12

Aspiration and/or injection of an intermediate joint or bursa — such as the wrist, elbow, ankle, acromioclavicular joint, or olecranon bursa — performed without ultrasound guidance.

73221 $205.08

MRI of any upper extremity joint — shoulder, elbow, or wrist — performed without contrast material.

73721 $204.41

MRI of a lower extremity joint (hip, knee, or ankle) performed without contrast material.

77080 View procedure details

86200 View procedure details

86235 View procedure details

85651 View procedure details

Common coding pitfalls

The recurring mistakes coders make with M06.29 and adjacent codes.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in CDC ICD-10-CM tabular guidance, AAOS coding references, and cited references ↓

Using M06.29 when only one bursal site is involved — always select the site-specific M06.2x code if a single anatomic location is documented.
Confusing rheumatoid bursitis (M06.2x) with general RA codes like M06.09 or M06.9 — bursitis must be the provider's stated active diagnosis, not inferred from an RA history.
Selecting M71.9 (Bursopathy, unspecified / Bursitis NOS) instead of M06.29 when the provider has clearly linked bursitis to rheumatoid disease.
Assigning M06.29 based on a history of RA alone without current documentation of active bursal involvement at multiple sites.
Failing to code the underlying RA condition separately when payer policy or clinical context requires it alongside M06.29.

Clinical context

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 7 cited references ↓

M06.29 captures rheumatoid bursitis confirmed at multiple sites — for example, bilateral shoulder bursae plus a knee bursa, or concurrent elbow and hip involvement. Use it only when the provider explicitly documents rheumatoid bursitis affecting multiple distinct sites, not a single-site finding repeated across encounters. This code sits within the M06.2 family; if bursitis is isolated to one named joint, use the site-specific code (e.g., M06.261 for right knee, M06.262 for left knee) instead.

M06.29 is distinct from general RA codes. The provider must identify bursitis as the active feature — not just underlying RA — and must describe involvement at more than one site. Do not default here when the record simply lists RA with diffuse joint complaints; bursitis requires clinical or imaging confirmation of bursal involvement. If only a single bursa is inflamed, drop to the appropriate site-specific M06.2x code.

This code is included in CMS biomarker coverage policy (Article A56541) as an RA-related diagnosis supporting medical necessity for certain biomarker tests. It is also a CMS-HCC v28 risk-adjustment code (category 40), so accurate capture directly affects the patient's RAF score. Payers will scrutinize documentation — the note must support both the rheumatoid etiology and the multi-site burden.

Sibling codes

Other billable codes under M06.2 (laterality / anatomic variants).

M06.28

Rheumatoid bursitis, vertebrae

M06.20

Rheumatoid bursitis, unspecified site

Frequently asked questions

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

01How many sites must be documented to justify M06.29 over a single-site M06.2x code?

At least two anatomically distinct bursal sites must be documented with active rheumatoid bursitis. If only one site is confirmed, select the appropriate site-specific code (e.g., M06.261 right knee, M06.271 right ankle and foot).

02Can M06.29 be used without a separately coded RA diagnosis?

M06.29 is itself a rheumatoid arthritis subcategory code, so it carries the RA context. However, if the patient also carries an active seropositive RA diagnosis (M05.xx), code both when documentation supports concurrent conditions and payer policy permits.

03Does serostatus (RF-positive vs. RF-negative) affect which code to use for rheumatoid bursitis?

No. The M06.2x family does not branch by serostatus. Serostatus drives the M05 versus M06 split for rheumatoid arthritis codes, but all rheumatoid bursitis — regardless of RF positivity — codes to M06.2x.

04Is M06.29 a valid code for CMS biomarker testing medical necessity?

Yes. CMS Local Coverage Article A56541 (Biomarkers Overview) explicitly lists M06.29 in Group 2 as a diagnosis code supporting medical necessity for covered biomarker tests.

05Does M06.29 affect HCC risk adjustment?

Yes. M06.29 maps to CMS-HCC v28 category 40. It must be documented and coded at least once per measurement year to contribute to the patient's Risk Adjustment Factor.

06What is the difference between M06.29 and M06.20?

M06.20 is used when site is unspecified — appropriate only when the provider does not document which bursal locations are involved. M06.29 is the correct code when the provider confirms bursitis at multiple named sites. Never default to M06.20 when multi-site involvement is documented.

07Can M06.29 appear on a Medicare foot care claim?

Yes. CMS Billing and Coding Article A57193 (Routine Foot Care) lists M06.29 with an asterisk indicating it may trigger the 'active care' documentation requirement — meaning the date the patient was last seen by their attending physician must be recorded on the claim.

Sources & references

Editorial content was developed using the following public sources. Last verified May 8, 2026.

Mira AI Scribe

Mira's AI scribe captures each bursal site by name and laterality from the provider's exam and imaging notes, flags the rheumatoid etiology link, and records serostatus and any ultrasound or MRI findings that confirm multi-site bursal involvement. This prevents a drop to M06.20 (unspecified site) or M71.9 (bursitis NOS), protects HCC RAF scoring, and satisfies CMS biomarker medical-necessity documentation requirements.

See how Mira captures M06.29 documentation