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    OpenPayerBilling CodesBody and Upper Extremity Application of SplintsCPT cpt-29105-upper-and-lower-arm-splint-application
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    CPT 29105: Application of Upper and Lower Arm Splint

    Medicare pays $100 and commercial payers pay $161 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 29105 describes the application of a rigid or flexible splint to the upper and lower arm to immobilize an injured arm for pain control, healing, or stabilization of a fracture prior to surgical repair; this is an application of an upper/lower arm splint typically performed as an orthopaedic or emergency service in settings such as the emergency department, urgent care, or outpatient orthopaedic clinic.

    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

    Nationally, Medicare averages $100.30 for CPT 29105 while BUCA’s mean commercial rate is notably higher at $160.70, indicating that BUCA pays about $60.40 more on average than Medicare. This gap highlights a substantial divergence between average commercial reimbursements and the federal program for this procedure.

    Rate dispersion (P75 minus P25) varies materially across payers. Blue Cross Blue Shield has the widest interquartile spread at $85.00 ($249.90 - $161.40), followed by UnitedHealth Group at $73.70 ($151.20 - $76.30). Cigna shows a moderate spread of $58.40 ($129.40 - $71.00), Aetna is tighter at $55.20 ($94.30 - $39.10), and BUCA’s IQR is $77.50 ($196.40 - $118.90). Medicare’s IQR is narrow at $10.00 ($104 - $94), indicating the most compressed distribution among these payers.

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    National Payer Mean Reimbursement Rates

    State Reimbursement Rates

    State: Alaska1 / 51

    Rate by payer

    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 34-year-old male presents to the emergency department after a fall from a ladder onto his right arm. The patient reports immediate pain, swelling, and limited range of motion. Physical exam demonstrates deformity and tenderness along the mid-humeral shaft and distal forearm. Neurovascular status is intact. Plain radiographs confirm an acute closed fracture of the right humeral shaft and an acute closed distal radius fracture. The attending emergency medicine physician applies a temporary rigid long-arm splint extending from the axilla to the hand to immobilize the upper and lower arm for pain control and to stabilize the fractures prior to definitive orthopedic evaluation and possible surgical fixation. The splint is molded, padded, and secured; neurovascular checks are documented pre- and post-application. The encounter is coded with 29105 for application of a rigid or flexible splint to immobilize the injured arm, and the visit includes documentation of the indication (fracture), consent, splint type, laterality, time spent, and follow-up plan with orthopedic surgery.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    29125Application of non-moveable, short arm splint (forearm to hand)Short arm splints may be used instead of a long-arm splint for isolated distal radius/ulna injuries or less proximal fractures.

    Related Modifiers

    8 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    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…
    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.,…
    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…
    57CPT® modifier -57 (“Decision for Surgery”) is appended to an Evaluation and Management (E/M) service when that encounter results in the initial decision to perform a major surgery (a procedure with a…- Use modifier 57 when an E/M service provided by the same provider (or same tax ID) on the day of or the day before a major surgical procedure (90‑day global period) results in the initial decision…
    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…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207X00000X
    207XX0004X
    207P00000X
    363LC1500X
    207RE0101X
    3336I0012X
    2085U0001X
    163WP0808X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Emergency & Medical Transportation1 / 4

    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-29125-FOREARM-WRIST-STATIC-SPLINT-APPLICATION

    CPT 29125: Rigid Splint Elbow to Palm for Forearm/Wrist Injury

    CPT-29126-DYNAMIC-SPLINT-LOWER-ARM-ELBOW-TO-PALM

    CPT 29126: Dynamic (Hinged) Splint, Forearm to Palm

    CPT-29130-STATIC-FINGER-SPLINT-APPLICATION

    CPT 29130: Application of Static Finger Splint

    CPT-29131-DYNAMIC-FINGER-SPLINT-APPLICATION

    CPT 29131: Dynamic Finger Splint Application to Improve Joint Motion

    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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    29126
    Application of moveable, hinged short arm splint (forearm to hand)
    Used when wrist motion is permitted by a hinged short arm construct; alternative to rigid immobilization.
    29130Application of non-moveable, hinged finger splintUsed for isolated finger injuries and may be applied in conjunction with upper extremity splints when finger immobilization is required.
    29131Application of moveable, hinged finger splintUsed when controlled finger motion is desired; may be applied alongside arm splints when indicated.