What is the status of codes G0289 and 29877 in relation to other arthroscopic knee procedures?
CPT code 29877 is arthroscopic debridement/shaving of articular cartilage (chondroplasty) which is a component of more comprehensive procedures such as 29881 (arthroscopic medial or lateral meniscectomy) and 29883 (arthroscopic repair of medial and lateral meniscus). This code has been through multiple revisions as far as NCCI rebundling edits. Furthermore, there has been the addition of the HCPCS code G0289 (arthroscopy of knee for removal of loose or foreign body, chondroplasty at the time of other surgical knee arthroscopy in a different compartment of the same knee).effective 030103. Presently, code 29877 may be separately billed if performed in a different compartment of the same knee (as also being treated with, for example 29881 or 29883) or in the contralateral knee for dates of service prior to 030103. For dates of service after 030103, providers should use G0289; but providers should not use 29877 or G0289 for chondroplasties done in the same compartments as more comprehensiv
