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    OpenPayerBilling CodesLower Extremity Application of SplintsCPT cpt-29515-short-leg-splint-lower-leg-immobilization
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    CPT 29515: Short Leg Splint Application for Lower Leg/Ankle/Foot Injuries

    Medicare pays $85 and commercial payers pay $157 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 29515 describes the application of a short leg splint to immobilize the lower leg from just below the knee to the foot for injuries such as fractures, dislocations, and sprains; this is an orthopedic immobilization service typically performed in emergency department or outpatient orthopedic settings for acute lower extremity injuries.

    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

    Commercial averages sit above Medicare for CPT 29515: Blue Cross Blue Shield and BUCA show substantially higher means than Medicare’s mean of $85.2. BUCA’s mean is $156.8, roughly $71.6 above Medicare, while Blue Cross Blue Shield’s mean of $203.5 exceeds Medicare by $118.3; other national commercial means (Aetna $71.8, Cigna $101.8, UnitedHealth Group $109.8) spread between those points, illustrating material premium variation between commercial contracts and the Medicare baseline.

    Dispersion varies notably across payers when comparing interquartile ranges (P75–P25). Blue Cross Blue Shield’s IQR is $87.0 (P75 $246.0 minus P25 $159.8), making it one of the widest; UnitedHealth Group’s IQR is $69.5 (P75 $137.7 − P25 $69.5), and Cigna’s IQR is $53.8. Aetna’s IQR is $50.4, while BUCA’s IQR is $73.9. Medicare’s IQR is tight at $9.0 (P75 $89 − P25 $80).

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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 patient presents to the emergency department after twisting the lower leg during a fall at home. The patient reports acute pain, swelling, and inability to bear weight on the affected limb. On exam there is localized tenderness over the distal tibia and ankle with swelling; neurovascular status is intact. Radiographs demonstrate an initial closed, unspecified fracture of the upper tibia on the right (S82.101A). The treating clinician determines that immediate immobilization is required prior to definitive orthopedic management. A short leg splint is applied from just below the knee to the foot to immobilize the lower leg, ankle, and foot, control pain, limit swelling, and protect the fracture during transport or while arranging definitive care.

    This workflow typically involves triage and focused musculoskeletal assessment, imaging (plain radiographs), informed consent for splinting, application of the short leg splint (CPT 29515) with padding and proper molding, post-application neurovascular checks, and discharge instructions or admission for orthopedic follow-up. Providers who commonly perform this service include emergency medicine physicians, orthopedic surgeons or orthopedic trauma specialists, and urgent care clinicians in outpatient or hospital emergency department settings. Typical sites of service are the emergency department, urgent care centers, and hospital outpatient clinics managing acute musculoskeletal injuries.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure

    Related Modifiers

    6 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…
    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…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207P00000X
    207X00000X
    207XX0004X
    213EP1101X
    2080P0205X
    103TB0200X
    2081S0010X
    207ZP0007X

    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-29505-LONG-LEG-SPLINT-APPLICATION-LEG-IMMOBILIZATION

    CPT 29505: Application of Long Leg Splint (Thigh to Ankle)

    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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    29125
    Application of short arm splint (forearm to hand); static
    Alternative splinting code for upper extremity injuries; analogous procedure for forearm/hand instead of lower leg
    29130Application of finger splint; staticSmaller, localized splinting procedure for finger injuries; related as another splinting technique in the same service family
    29505Application of long leg splint (thigh to ankle)Used when immobilization must extend to the thigh (longer immobilization) instead of a short leg splint; may be chosen for more proximal fractures
    29540Strapping; ankle and/or footAdjunct or alternative for minor ankle/foot injuries where strapping provides support rather than a full short leg splint