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    OpenPayerBilling CodesLower Extremity Application of Strapping-Any AgeCPT cpt-29520-hip-elastic-adhesive-taping-strapping
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    CPT 29520: Hip Strapping with Elastic Adhesive Tape

    Medicare pays $36 and commercial payers pay $122 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 29520 describes application of elastic adhesive tape to the hip to immobilize the joint or support muscles, limiting excessive or abnormal motion for conditions such as strains, sprains, dislocations, and certain fractures; this service is a strapping/orthopaedic support procedure typically performed in outpatient clinic or emergency department settings to provide short-term stabilization and symptom control.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Orthopedic Joint Procedures of the Knee for Managed Medicaid (MMC), Health and Recovery Plan (HARP), Child Health Plus (CHP), and Essential Plan (EP) Members, Autologous Chondrocyte Transplantation or Implantation Corporate Medical Policy, Autologous Platelet-Derived Growth Factors (Platelet-Rich Plasma [PRP]).

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    National Reimbursement Benchmarks

    Across national payers, Medicare's mean rate of $36.1 sits well below BUCA's average commercial mean of $121.6, indicating a substantial gap between federal reimbursement and this commercial benchmark. Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealth Group have higher commercial means ($181 and $55.1 respectively), while Aetna and Cigna cluster lower ($23.4 and $48.5), reinforcing that BUCA's mean is closer to higher-tier commercial payers than to Medicare.

    Dispersion measured as the interquartile range (P75 minus P25) highlights variability: Blue Cross Blue Shield has the widest IQR at $71.0 ($217.8 - $146.8), followed by BUCA at $54.3 ($148.6 - $94.3) and UnitedHealth Group at $35.6 ($69.7 - $35.1). Aetna shows the tightest spread with an IQR of $27.3 ($36.0 - $8.7), while Cigna's IQR is $33.8 ($62.8 - $29.0). These differences underscore substantive variation in commercial contract pricing relative to Medicare.

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    National Payer Mean Reimbursement Rates

    State Reimbursement Rates

    State: Alaska1 / 51

    Rate by payer

    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 28-year-old recreational soccer player presents to an orthopedic clinic after a fall during a match with immediate pain and limited range of motion in the right hip. On exam there is tenderness over the hip and difficulty bearing weight. Radiographs exclude a displaced fracture but show a non-specific hip joint derangement. The clinician reduces a minor dislocation in clinic or treats a hip sprain/strain conservatively and applies elastic adhesive strapping to stabilize the hip, limit excessive motion, control pain, and support surrounding muscles during the acute healing phase. The workflow includes history and focused musculoskeletal exam, review of imaging (X-ray or CT as indicated), diagnosis coding (for example S73.001A or M25.551), documentation of informed consent for conservative management, application of elastic adhesive tape (29520) with technique notes (areas taped, tension, patient tolerance), patient education on activity modification and skin care, and scheduling follow-up or referral to physical therapy if ongoing stabilization or rehabilitation is needed.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    29530Strapping; kneeAlternative strapping code used when stabilization is applied at the knee instead of the hip; relevant when concurrent knee injury is present.

    Related Modifiers

    7 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    25CPT modifier 25 indicates that on the same day as another procedure or service, the same physician or other qualified health care professional provided a significant, separately identifiable…- When to apply: Use modifier 25 only on an E/M code to indicate the same provider delivered a significant, separately identifiable E/M service on the same day as another procedure or service — i.e.,…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    50Modifier –50 (Bilateral Procedure) is appended to a CPT code when an identical procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures during the same operative session. The AMA states to add…- Use modifier -50 when the same CPT surgical, diagnostic, or radiology procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures (both sides of the body) during the same operative/session by the same…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    63Modifier‑63 is appended to surgical CPT codes (20000–69990) when a procedure is performed on a neonate or infant weighing ≤ 4 kg (about 8.8 lbs). The AMA/AAPC definition specifies this use and notes…- Use modifier -63 only for surgical procedures in the CPT 20000–69990 series performed on a neonate or infant who weighs ≤ 4 kg at the time of the procedure; it indicates increased complexity due to…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207X00000X
    207XX0004X
    225100000X
    207T00000X
    2083A0100X
    364SP0200X
    207QA0401X
    225XP0019X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    26 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    M16.11Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, right hip
    M16.12Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, left hip
    M24.152Other articular cartilage disorders, left hip
    M24.251Disorder of ligament, right hip
    M24.271Disorder of ligament, right ankle
    M24.851Other specific joint derangements of right hip, not elsewhere classified
    M25.551Pain in right hip
    M25.552Pain in left hip
    M70.31Other bursitis of elbow, right elbow
    M70.32Other bursitis of elbow, left elbow

    Showing 1–10 of 26

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Orthopedics/Musculoskeletal1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Orthopedic Joint Procedures of the Knee for Managed Medicaid (MMC), Health and Recovery Plan (HARP), Child Health Plus (CHP), and Essential Plan (EP) Membersuniverahealthcare2027-01-01
    Autologous Chondrocyte Transplantation or Implantation Corporate Medical Policybcbsvermont2026-12-01
    Autologous Platelet-Derived Growth Factors (Platelet-Rich Plasma [PRP])Cigna2026-10-15
    Metatarsophalangeal Joint ReplacementCigna2026-10-15
    Hip Arthroplasty (partial and total hip replacement)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Shoulder Arthroplasty (Total, Partial, Reverse, Revision and Resurfacing)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Artificial Lumbar Intervertebral Disc (Lumbar Total Disc Arthroplasty)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Osteochondral Grafting of the Kneeuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Lumbar Fusion (arthrodesis) with decompressionuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Metal-on-Metal Total Hip Resurfacinguniverahealthcare2026-10-15

    Related Codes

    CPT-29530-KNEE-ELASTIC-ADHESIVE-TAPE-STRAPPING

    CPT 29530: Elastic Adhesive Taping/Strapping of Knee

    CPT-29540-ANKLE-FOOT-ELASTIC-TAPE-STRAPPING

    CPT 29540: Elastic Tape Strapping of Ankle or Foot

    CPT-29550-TOE-ELASTIC-ADHESIVE-TAPE-APPLICATION-STRAPPING

    CPT 29550: Toe Strapping with Elastic Adhesive Tape

    CPT-29580-UNNA-BOOT-SPIRAL-COMPRESSION-DRESSING-APPLICATION

    CPT 29580: Unna Boot (Spiral Compression Dressing)

    CPT-29581-LOWER-LEG-ANKLE-FOOT-MULTILAYER-COMPRESSION-BANDAGE

    CPT 29581: Multilayer Compression Bandage, Lower Leg/Ankle/Foot

    CPT-29584-ARM-MULTILAYER-COMPRESSION-BANDAGE-VENOUS-STASIS

    CPT 29584: Multilayer Compression Bandage to Arm

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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    Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

    29540Strapping; ankle and/or footRelevant when lower-extremity multi-joint strapping is performed in the same episode of care.
    97110Therapeutic exercisesOften provided before or after hip strapping as part of rehabilitation to restore strength and range of motion.
    97140Manual therapy techniquesMay be performed adjunctively to address soft-tissue restrictions related to the hip injury.