Billing and Coding: Arthroscopic Lavage and Arthroscopic Debridement for the Osteoarthritic Knee â Medical Policy Article
J6 · Effective Apr 1, 2026
2 active Medicare policies list 29999, and 21 commercial payer policies list it. See each policy's status for the code and its official source. Listing a code is not a coverage decision: read each policy’s source for the requirements that apply.
Free account. Policy pages stay open to everyone.
J6 · Effective Apr 1, 2026
National · Effective Jan 1, 2023
21 policies from 12 payers
Summary of the payer’s published policy. Not a coverage determination — confirm with the payer before submitting.
| Policy | Effective | Status of 29999 |
|---|---|---|
| Coblation | Jul 12, 2023 | Covered |
| Skin and Soft Tissue Substitutes | Feb 9, 2024 | Covered |
| Policy | Effective | Status of 29999 |
|---|---|---|
| Coblation Therapies for Musculoskeletal Conditions | Oct 1, 2026 | Not covered |
| Electrothermal Shrinkage of Joint Capsules, Ligaments, and Tendons | Apr 15, 2026 | Not covered |
| Policy | Effective | Status of 29999 |
|---|---|---|
| Surgical Treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement | Aug 15, 2025 | Covered |
| Unicondylar Interpositional Spacer as a Treatment of Unicompartmental Arthritis of the Knee | Apr 1, 2026 | Covered |
| Policy | Effective | Status of 29999 |
|---|---|---|
| Surgical Treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement | Aug 15, 2025 | Covered |
| Unicondylar Interpositional Spacer as a Treatment of Unicompartmental Arthritis of the Knee | Apr 1, 2026 | Covered |
| Policy | Effective | Status of 29999 |
|---|---|---|
| Surgical Treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement | Aug 15, 2025 | Covered |
| Unicondylar Interpositional Spacer as a Treatment of Unicompartmental Arthritis of the Knee | Apr 1, 2026 | Covered |
| Policy | Effective | Status of 29999 |
|---|---|---|
| Surgical Treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement | Aug 15, 2025 | Covered |
| Unicondylar Interpositional Spacer as a Treatment of Unicompartmental Arthritis of the Knee | Apr 1, 2026 | Covered |
| Policy | Effective | Status of 29999 |
|---|---|---|
| Cigna Commercial Joint Surgery Code List | Mar 7, 2026 | Prior auth required |
| Cigna Comprehensive Code List | Mar 7, 2026 | Prior auth required |
| Policy | Effective | Status of 29999 |
|---|---|---|
| Surgery of the Hip | Sep 10, 2026 | Covered |
| Surgery of the Shoulder | Sep 1, 2026 | Covered |
| Policy | Effective | Status of 29999 |
|---|---|---|
| Surgery of the Hip | Sep 10, 2026 | Covered |
| Surgery of the Shoulder | Sep 1, 2026 | Covered |
| Policy | Effective | Status of 29999 |
|---|---|---|
| Cigna Commercial & Medicare Advantage Joint Surgery Code List | Jan 1, 2026 | Prior auth required |
| Policy | Effective | Status of 29999 |
|---|---|---|
| Orthopedic Applications of Stem Cell Therapy, Including Bone Substitutes Used with Autologous Bone Marrow | Feb 1, 2026 | Covered |
| Policy | Effective | Status of 29999 |
|---|---|---|
| Joint Procedures | Not recorded | Covered |