Wrist Arthroscopy for Cartilage Cushion Repair

Nationwide rates for HCPCS 29846

Through small punctures at the back of the wrist, a camera and fine instruments are used to trim or repair the triangular cartilage cushion on the little-finger side of the wrist and to clean damaged tissue out of the joint. This cushion supports the wrist during gripping and twisting, and a tear in it causes pain and clicking on that side. It is normally day surgery followed by splinting and therapy.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Wrist Arthroscopy for Cartilage Cushion Repair cost?

$6,042

Typical total for the visit. Nationwide, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $6,042 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $794 to the doctor who performs it, and $5,248 to the hospital or surgery center where it takes place. Done somewhere without a facility charge, you pay only the first.

13% physician fee87% facility fee

These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 59 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the bill	Who charges it	Typical	Range
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it	The doctor who performs it	$794	$603 to $1,175
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center	The hospital or surgery center	$5,248	$2,455 to $8,913

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $5,248 · 10th to 90th $813 to $12,882Professionalmedian $794 · 10th to 90th $501 to $2,089

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier	Facility/Professional	Modifier	Typical Low	Median	Typical High
Aetna Setting Facility Modifier Global Typical Low $812.83 Median $4,786.30 Typical High $12,022.64	Facility	Global	$812.83	$4,786.30	$12,022.64
BCBS Setting Facility Modifier Global Typical Low $2,884.03 Median $7,413.10 Typical High $15,135.61	Facility	Global	$2,884.03	$7,413.10	$15,135.61
Cigna Setting Facility Modifier Global Typical Low $812.83 Median $1,819.70 Typical High $11,481.54	Facility	Global	$812.83	$1,819.70	$11,481.54
Cigna Setting Facility Modifier AS · PA/NP assist Typical Low $85.11 Median $85.11 Typical High $85.11	Facility	AS · PA/NP assist	$85.11	$85.11	$85.11
United Setting Facility Modifier Global Typical Low $1,819.70 Median $5,248.07 Typical High $11,748.98	Facility	Global	$1,819.70	$5,248.07	$11,748.98

What it costs in each state

The same service costs 4.3 times more in Wisconsin than in Oregon. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.

Physician feeFacility fee

WI $8,965OR $2,094

Median negotiated rate in each state, from every insurer that publishes one. States where no insurer publishes a rate for this service are not shown.