Hand Surgery
What they do most for Medicare patients
| Service, sort | Times billed, sort |
|---|---|
| Established patient office or other outpatient visit, 20-29 minutes | 456,688 |
| Established patient office or other outpatient visit, 30-39 minutes | 314,987 |
| Injection into tendon or ligament | 214,299 |
| X-ray of hand, minimum of 3 views | 196,382 |
| New patient office or other outpatient visit, 30-44 minutes | 194,169 |
| New patient office or other outpatient visit, 45-59 minutes | 171,334 |
| X-ray of wrist, minimum of 3 views | 156,501 |
| Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from small joint | 99,079 |
| X-ray of finger, minimum of 2 views | 95,246 |
| X-ray of shoulder, minimum of 2 views | 65,054 |
| Incision of tendon covering of finger | 51,992 |
| Therapy procedure using exercise to develop strength, endurance, range of motion, and flexibility, each 15 minutes | 51,408 |
| Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from medium joint | 49,442 |
| Release and/or relocation of hand nerve | 48,302 |
| Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | 46,345 |
| Established patient office or other outpatient visit, 10-19 minutes | 39,335 |
| Injection of carpal tunnel | 27,694 |
| X-ray of wrist, 2 views | 24,950 |
| X-ray of elbow, minimum of 3 views | 24,613 |
| Release of wrist ligament using an endoscope | 24,265 |
| Therapy procedure using manual technique, each 15 minutes | 19,034 |
| X-ray of hand, 2 views | 16,918 |
| Cast supplies, short arm cast, adult (11 years +), fiberglass | 13,632 |
| Ultrasonic guidance for needle placement | 12,086 |
| Application of elbow to finger cast | 11,697 |
| Therapy procedure using functional activities | 10,456 |
| X-ray of elbow, 2 views | 8,744 |
| Injection into tendon at attachment to bone or muscle | 7,913 |
| Removal of bone joints between wrist and fingers | 6,928 |
| Established patient office or other outpatient visit, 40-54 minutes | 6,879 |
| Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from small joint using ultrasound guidance | 6,761 |
| Application of nonmoveable forearm to hand splint | 6,752 |
| Imaging guidance for procedure, 60 minutes or less | 6,395 |
| New patient office or other outpatient visit, 15-29 minutes | 6,219 |
| Aspiration and/or injection of fluid large joint using ultrasound guidance | 6,208 |
| Mri scan of arm joint without contrast | 6,095 |
| Fluoroscopic guidance for needle placement | 5,916 |
| Release and/or relocation of elbow nerve | 5,323 |
| Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from medium joint using ultrasound guidance | 5,307 |
| Limited ultrasound scan of joint or other extremity structure except blood vessels | 4,469 |
| Therapy procedure to re-educate brain-to-nerve-to-muscle function, each 15 minutes | 4,456 |
| Repair of tendon, finger, and/or palm of hand | 4,417 |
| Training in the use of orthopedic device for arm, leg and/or trunk, each 15 minutes | 4,074 |
| Prosthetic repair of shoulder joint, total shoulder | 4,022 |
| X-ray of knee, 3 views | 3,981 |
| X-ray of hip, 2-3 views | 3,808 |
| Transfer of tendon to back of hand | 3,713 |
| Initial hospital care with straightforward or low-level medical decision making, if using time, at least 55 minutes | 3,631 |
| New patient office or other outpatient visit, 60-74 minutes | 3,490 |
| Removal of skin and tissue, 20.0 sq cm or less | 3,331 |
| Complete ultrasound scan of joint | 3,316 |
| Removal of growth of tendon finger or hand | 3,137 |
| X-ray of knee, 4 or more views | 3,134 |
| Closed treatment of broken forearm (radius) bone at the wrist area on the thumb side of the wrist without manipulation | 3,096 |
| Subsequent nursing facility care with straightforward level of medical decision making, per day, if using time, at least 15 minutes | 3,083 |
| Cast supplies, short arm splint, adult (11 years +), fiberglass | 2,843 |
| Infusion into a vein for therapy, prevention, or diagnosis, each additional hour | 2,810 |
| Follow-up training in the use of orthopedic device or artificial arm, leg and/or trunk, each 15 minutes | 2,766 |
| Aspiration and/or injection of cyst of tendon | 2,666 |
| Treatment of 3 or more broken lower forearm bone pieces on thumb side inside wrist joint with placement of stabilizing device | 2,535 |
| Evaluation for occupational therapy, typically 30 minutes | 2,292 |
| Electrical stimulation (unattended), to one or more areas for indication(s) other than wound care, as part of a therapy plan of care | 2,217 |
| Initial hospital care with moderate level of medical decision making, if using time, at least 75 minutes | 2,151 |
| Injection of medication into palm | 2,117 |
| X-ray of foot, minimum of 3 views | 1,905 |
| X-ray of upper spine, 2-3 views | 1,821 |
| Manipulation of finger for connective tissue release following enzyme injection | 1,784 |
| Application of nonmoveable finger splint | 1,748 |
| Removal of connective tissue of palm and release of finger, first digit | 1,702 |
| Test or measurement for functional capacity, each 15 minutes | 1,623 |
| Release of tendon of palm or finger | 1,619 |
| Subsequent nursing facility care with moderate level of medical decision making, per day, if using time, at least 30 minutes | 1,604 |
| Needle measurement of electrical activity in arm or leg muscles, complete study | 1,589 |
| Relocation of tendon of forearm and/or wrist | 1,576 |
| Infusion into a vein for therapy, prevention, or diagnosis, 1 hour or less | 1,571 |
| Refilling and maintenance of portable pump | 1,571 |
| Removal of muscle and/or tissue, 20.0 sq cm or less | 1,561 |
| Chronic care management services, first 20 minutes of clinical staff time directed by health care professional, per calendar month | 1,516 |
| Shaving of part of shoulder bone and repair of ligament using an endoscope | 1,414 |
| X-ray of upper arm, minimum of 2 views | 1,397 |
| Application of ultrasound, each 15 minutes | 1,361 |
| Finger splint, static | 1,349 |
| Incision or the tendon covering on the top side of the wrist | 1,339 |
| X-ray of lower and sacral spine, 2-3 views | 1,314 |
| Repair of shoulder rotator cuff using an endoscope | 1,293 |
| Application of hand and lower forearm cast | 1,264 |
| Release of tissue of palm | 1,210 |
| Therapy procedure in a group setting | 1,191 |
| X-ray of ankle, minimum of 3 views | 1,157 |
| Initial hospital care with straightforward or low level of medical decision making, per day, if using time, at least 40 minutes | 1,141 |
| Mri scan of lower spinal canal without contrast | 1,134 |
| Cast supplies, short arm splint, adult (11 years +), plaster | 1,081 |
| Extensive removal of growth of soft tissue structures in palm side of wrist | 1,078 |
| Application of hot wax bath | 1,075 |
| Insertion of needle into vein for collection of blood sample | 1,036 |
| Injection of drug or substance under skin or into muscle | 1,034 |
| Hyperbaric oxygen under pressure, full body chamber, per 30 minute interval | 1,028 |
| Mri scan of leg joint without contrast | 1,002 |
| Injection of anesthetic agent and/or steroid into other nerve or branch | 989 |
| Ct scan of arm without contrast | 932 |
Sources: Medicare Care Compare (hospitals and schools; Medicare-enrolled clinicians), CMS Medicare Physician & Other Practitioners 2023 (services), Medicare Part D Prescribers 2024 (drugs).