Ortho / Rheum · CMS status A
20605
Arthrocentesis intermediate joint
Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection, intermediate joint or bursa (e.g. wrist, elbow, ankle, olecranon bursa).
Work RVU
0.68
2026 Medicare pays
$53.44
National GPCI · non-facility · CF $33.4009
RVU anatomyWork 0.68 + Practice 0.86 + Malpractice 0.06 = 1.60 total
Work (your effort)Practice expenseMalpractice
When to use it
Intermediate joint injection without US guidance.
Documentation checklist
- ✓Joint, side.
- ✓Drug, dose.
- ✓Technique, complications.
Common pitfalls
- !US-guided is 20606; don't bill 20605 + 76942 separately.
Common modifiers
25LTRT
Common ICD-10 pairings
M19.031M77.10
Pairs well with
Educational reference, not billing or legal advice. Verify against your payer contracts and your compliance team before submission.