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    v1.0.31
    OpenPayerBilling CodesBody and Upper Extremity Application of CastsCPT cpt-29058-plaster-velpeau-upper-forearm-shoulder-cast
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    CPT 29058: Application of Plaster Velpeau Cast for Upper Forearm and Shoulder

    Medicare pays $142 and commercial payers pay $197 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 29058 describes application of a plaster Velpeau cast that immobilizes the upper forearm and shoulder, holding a flexed forearm against the trunk to treat fractures of the humerus, scapula, or clavicle or to maintain reduction after glenohumeral, sternoclavicular, or acromioclavicular dislocation; service type: cast application/immobilization; typical site of service: emergency department or outpatient orthopaedic clinic or ambulatory surgical center where closed reductions and fracture immobilization are performed.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Medical Necessity Guidelines Non-Emergency Transportation, Non-Emergent Transportation Medical Policy, Non-Emergency Facility to Facility Transfers.

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    National Reimbursement Benchmarks

    Medicare’s mean rate for CPT 29058 sits at $142.4, notably lower than BUCA’s mean commercial rate of $197.5, leaving a gap of $55.1 that highlights a material premium in commercial contracting versus the federal program. Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealth Group, Aetna and BUCA all show higher mean values than Medicare, with commercial averages generally clustering above the $140s.

    Dispersion measured as P75 minus P25 is tightest for Aetna at $79.5 and tight for Medicare at $15 (P75 $148 minus P25 $133). The widest spread appears with Blue Cross Blue Shield at $128.6, followed by UnitedHealth Group at $122.4 and Cigna at $120.0, indicating broader variability in commercial pricing among those payers compared with Aetna and 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 48-year-old male presents to the emergency department after a fall from a ladder with severe right shoulder and proximal arm pain, deformity, and limited shoulder and elbow motion. Radiographs demonstrate a displaced mid-shaft humeral fracture with concern for potential instability; after neurovascular assessment and appropriate analgesia, the orthopaedic or emergency medicine provider performs a closed reduction as indicated and applies a plaster Velpeau (upper forearm and shoulder) cast to immobilize the shoulder and elbow in flexion against the trunk. The cast prevents movement of the glenohumeral, acromioclavicular, and sternoclavicular joints and stabilizes the humerus while soft tissues and the fracture begin to heal. Typical workflow includes pre-procedure informed consent, neurovascular exam documentation, description of reduction maneuvers if performed, application technique and materials used, post-application neurovascular reassessment, cast care instructions documented in the record, and scheduling of follow-up radiographs and clinic evaluation.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    29055APPLICATION CAST SHOULDER SPICAAlternative immobilization for shoulder girdle injuries when thoracic immobilization is required; used when a spica is preferred over a Velpeau cast
    29065

    Related Modifiers

    8 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    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…
    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…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207X00000X
    207XX0004X
    207P00000X
    207SC0300X
    376G00000X
    343800000X
    163WP2201X
    207WX0109X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Emergency & Medical Transportation1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Medical Necessity Guidelines Non-Emergency TransportationMass General Brigham Health Plan2026-11-01
    Non-Emergent Transportation Medical PolicyHealth-New-England2026-11-01
    Non-Emergency Facility to Facility Transfershap_caresource_mi_coordinated_health2026-11-01
    Ambulance and Medical Transport Services (Ground, Air and Water) Corporate Medical Policybcbsvermont2026-10-01
    Emergency Air/Water Ambulance Services Medical GuidelineWPS Health Insurance2026-10-01
    Non-Emergent Ambulance ServicesConnectiCare2026-09-11
    Fixed Wing Air Ambulance TransportCigna2026-08-15
    Air AmbulanceAmbetter Georgia2026-08-01
    Ambulance Services (for New Mexico Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-08-01
    Ambulance Services (for Tennessee Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-08-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-29000-HALO-BODY-CAST-APPLICATION-CERVICAL-IMMOBILIZATION

    CPT 29000: Halo-Type Body Cast Application

    CPT-29010-RISSER-JACKET-PREOPERATIVE-SCOLIOSIS-LOCALIZER

    CPT 29010: Risser Jacket (Risser Localizer Cast) Application

    CPT-29015-RISSER-JACKET-PREOPERATIVE-SCOLIOSIS-CAST

    CPT 29015: Risser Localizer Jacket Application for Scoliosis

    CPT-29035-BODY-CAST-TRUNK-SPINE-IMMOBILIZATION

    CPT 29035: Thoracolumbosacral Body Cast for Postoperative Spinal Immobilization

    CPT-29040-MINERVA-BODY-CAST-CERVICAL-THORACIC-STABILIZATION

    CPT 29040: Minerva-Type Body Cast for Cervical and Trunk Stabilization

    CPT-29044-BODY-CAST-SHOULDERS-TO-HIPS-AND-ONE-THIGH

    CPT 29044: Body Cast, Shoulders to Hips and One Thigh

    CPT-29046-TRUNK-AND-SPINE-BODY-CAST-APPLICATION-SHOULDERS-TO-THIGHS

    CPT 29046: Body Cast, Shoulders to Thighs, Trunk/Spine Immobilization

    CPT-29049-FIGURE-OF-EIGHT-CAST-APPLICATION-UPPER-EXTREMITY

    CPT 29049: Figure-of-Eight Cast Application for Arm Immobilization

    CPT-29055-SHOULDER-SPICA-SEMI-FULL-BODY-CAST

    CPT 29055: Shoulder Spica Semi–Full Body Cast

    CPT-29065-LONG-ARM-CAST-APPLICATION-UPPER-LOWER-ARM

    CPT 29065: Application of Long Arm Cast for Upper/Lower Arm

    Showing 1–10 of 13

    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.

    APPLICATION CAST SHOULDER TO HAND LONG ARM
    More extensive immobilization extending to the hand; used when wrist or hand stabilization is concurrently required
    29075APPLICATION CAST ELBOW TO FINGER SHORT ARMShort arm cast option when injury is distal to the elbow and does not require shoulder immobilization
    29085APPLICATION CAST HAND & LOWER FOREARM GAUNTLETUsed for isolated hand or distal forearm fractures when shoulder immobilization is not indicated
    29086APPLICATION CAST FINGERFor isolated digital fractures; typically used when only a finger immobilization is required