Rheumatology · CMS status A
20605
Drain/inj joint/bursa w/o us
Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection, intermediate joint or bursa (e.g. wrist, elbow, ankle, olecranon bursa).
Published by RVUDoc. Numeric data: CMS RVU26C, effective 2026-07-01. Page updated 2026-09-23. Calculation limits and editorial policy.
Work RVU
0.66
National non-QP estimate
$57.12
National GPCI · non-facility · CF $33.4009
Fee-schedule estimate before claim adjustments. Coverage, setting and payer rules still apply.
RVU anatomyWork 0.66 + Practice 0.97 + Malpractice 0.08 = 1.71 total
Work (your effort)Practice expenseMalpractice
Billing guidance for 20605 is locked
- When to use it: the exact clinical situations that support billing 20605
- Documentation checklist: the 3 elements your note needs before submitting
- Common pitfalls: the 1 mistakes that get 20605 downcoded or denied
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Common modifiers
25LTRT
Common ICD-10 pairings
M19.031M77.10
Related codes
These include alternative services and possible add-ons. Listing codes together does not establish that they can be billed together; check the applicable edits and payer policy.
See what 20605 adds to your year
Add it to the wRVU calculator with your own volume, or paste a note and let the chart audit check your coding.
Educational reference, not billing or legal advice. Verify against your payer contracts and your compliance team before submission.