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    OpenPayerBilling CodesBody and Upper Extremity Application of SplintsCPT cpt-29130-static-finger-splint-application
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    CPT 29130: Application of Static Finger Splint

    Medicare pays $47 and commercial payers pay $129 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 29130 describes application of a static (rigid) finger splint to immobilize one or more fingers to allow healing of a sprain or fracture; service type: splint application/orthopaedic immobilization; typical site of service: outpatient clinic, emergency department, or ambulatory surgery/orthopedics setting where hand and upper extremity immobilization is provided.

    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’s mean allowed amount for CPT 29130 sits near $47.5, substantially below BUCA’s average commercial mean of $129.1, so commercial reimbursements represented by BUCA are roughly $81.6 higher than Medicare on average. This gap highlights a pronounced difference between average government and commercial payments for the same procedure.

    Dispersion measured by the interquartile range (P75 minus P25) is widest for Blue Cross Blue Shield at $67.8 (P75 $215.1 minus P25 $147.3), indicating greater variability in contracted rates, while Aetna is among the tightest with an IQR of $25.0 (P75 $55.0 minus P25 $26.0). UnitedHealth Group and Cigna show similar mid-to-high dispersion ($40.0 and $45.0 respectively), and BUCA’s IQR is $54.9, reflecting moderate spread around its mean.

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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 patient presents to the orthopaedic hand clinic after sustaining a crushing injury to the index finger while working. Examination and plain radiographs demonstrate an acute, closed phalanx fracture without gross displacement. The treating orthopaedic hand surgeon decides to immobilize the injured digit in a static, rigid finger splint to prevent motion while allowing the fracture to heal. The clinical workflow includes triage and brief history, focused hand and neurovascular exam, review of imaging, informed consent for splint application, application and molding of a prefabricated or custom rigid finger splint, patient education on wound care and activity restrictions, documentation of the procedure using 29130, and scheduling a follow-up visit for reassessment and repeat imaging. Typical sites of service are the orthopaedic clinic, urgent care clinic, or emergency department. Common providers performing this procedure include orthopaedic surgeons, hand surgeons, and physical therapists working under appropriate scope and orders.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    29131Application of finger splint, dynamicAlternative technique when a dynamic splint (allows controlled motion) is indicated instead of a static splint; considered when motion is therapeutically needed.

    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.,…
    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…
    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…
    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…
    51Modifier –51 (Multiple Procedures) is used when the same provider performs multiple procedures in the same session to identify secondary, non‑exempt procedures and indicate payment reduction logic…- Use modifier -51 when the same provider performs multiple distinct procedures during the same patient encounter: report the highest‑valued procedure first (no modifier) and append -51 to…
    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
    225100000X
    385HR2065X
    2279P3800X
    2279P1004X
    247200000X
    282E00000X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    24 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    M25.541Pain in joints of right hand
    M25.542Pain in joints of left hand
    M79.641Pain in right hand
    M79.642Pain in left hand
    M79.643Pain in unspecified hand
    M84.471APathological fracture, right ankle, initial encounter for fracture
    M84.472APathological fracture, left ankle, initial encounter for fracture
    S62.521ADisplaced fracture of distal phalanx of right thumb, initial encounter for closed fracture
    S62.522ADisplaced fracture of distal phalanx of left thumb, initial encounter for closed fracture
    S62.523ADisplaced fracture of distal phalanx of unspecified thumb, initial encounter for closed fracture

    Showing 1–10 of 24

    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-29105-UPPER-AND-LOWER-ARM-SPLINT-APPLICATION

    CPT 29105: Application of Upper and Lower Arm Splint

    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-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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    Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

    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.

    29125
    Application of short arm splint (forearm to hand)
    Related immobilization used when injury requires wrist and forearm stabilization in addition to finger support.
    29126Application of short arm splint (forearm to hand)Related code variant for short arm splint application; used when immobilization extends beyond the digits and involves the forearm and hand.