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CPT code 36012: Venous catheterization, second-order or deeper branch2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Reports selective catheter advancement into a second-order or more distal venous branch, such as during adrenal vein sampling or a venous intervention.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality9.9K Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $936.67 for 36012 in the office and $165.48 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$936.67Office (non-facility)
$165.48Hospital or facility
+15.9%vs the national office rate ($808.30)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 36012 nationwide

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

We’ll open 36012 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 36012 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 36012 covers

This code represents advancing a catheter from a larger vein into a more selective branch at least one level beyond a first-order branch. It may be performed by an interventional radiologist, vascular surgeon, or another physician during venous sampling, venography, or a catheter-based treatment. Adrenal vein sampling is a representative clinical situation: the operator steers the catheter into the adrenal venous branch to obtain a targeted sample.

Choose the code based on the most selective branch reached, not simply the access vein or the length of catheter advancement. The procedure report should identify the target vein and document the catheter position. This code describes catheter placement; report related imaging, sampling, or treatment services only when separately supported and permitted by applicable coding rules. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, CMS pays the highest-valued procedure in full and other procedures at 50%. For a bilateral procedure reported with modifier 50, CMS pays this code at 150%.

This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.

How Washington, DC area compares for 36012

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 36012 runs from $703.31 in Arkansas to $1,108.88 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $936.67. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

36012 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$936.67
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$929.25−$7.42
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$867.57−$69.10
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$839.29−$97.38
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$936.83+$0.16
  6. Alaska · Alaska$899.89−$36.78
  7. Alabama · Alabama$715.14−$221.53

Other areas in District of Columbia first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

36012 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$703.31$140.96
ArizonaArizona$784.45$150.08
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$867.02$149.51
Chico, CACalifornia$865.28$147.77
El Centro, CACalifornia$865.38$147.88
Fresno, CACalifornia$865.28$147.77
Hanford, CACalifornia$865.28$147.77
Madera, CACalifornia$865.28$147.77

36012 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

$703.31

$987.08

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
36012 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$899.891
AL$715.141
AR$703.311
AZ$784.451
CA$865.28–$1,108.8829
CO$848.231
CT$866.781
DC$936.671
DE$798.701
FL$789.09–$867.573
GA$739.55–$823.582
GU$891.831
HI$891.831
IA$738.581
ID$743.521
IL$761.38–$843.274
IN$748.501
KS$733.391
KY$731.801
LA$730.00–$771.392
MA$841.61–$941.342
MD$815.83–$936.673
ME$746.60–$794.602
MI$752.39–$798.942
MN$813.251
MO$714.84–$776.023
MS$709.301
MT$808.261
NC$755.711
ND$796.001
NE$743.571
NH$833.321
NJ$876.83–$924.642
NM$756.581
NV$805.521
NY$768.48–$960.635
OH$749.881
OK$731.631
OR$799.46–$879.572
PA$751.95–$841.962
PR$815.401
RI$830.461
SC$754.021
SD$794.551
TN$737.441
TX$746.23–$845.228
UT$765.791
VA$790.77–$936.672
VI$815.401
VT$791.341
WA$840.53–$963.082
WI$765.691
WV$729.021
WY$802.921

See 36012 in every payment locality

How the 36012 rate is calculated

Each of 36012’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.

How the rate is built · 36012

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work3.42

3.42 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense20.16

20.16 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.62

0.62 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

24.2000

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$808.30

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

The exact Washington, DC area inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

4,435

Code
36012
Physician work
3.42
Practice expense
20.16
Malpractice
0.62

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 36012 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work3.42× 1.0543.6047
Practice expense20.16× 1.17823.7485
Malpractice0.62× 1.1130.6901
Total RVUs28.0432
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$936.67

Office: (3.42 × 1.054 + 20.16 × 1.178 + 0.62 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $936.67

Facility: (3.42 × 1.054 + 0.56 × 1.178 + 0.62 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $165.48

Open 36012 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 36012

The CMS indicators that decide how 36012 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 36012

Venous catheterization, second-order or deeper branch

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

36012 without 50 · national office

$808.30

Venous catheterization, second-order or deeper branch

36012-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$1,212.45

Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).

When to use modifier 50

Codes related to 36012

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 36012
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Same family
36010Venous catheter, SVC or IVC placementVenous catheter placement at the vena cava level, before selective branch catheterization.$593.86
36011Venous catheterization, first-order branchVenous catheter placement in a first-order branch; 36012 represents a more distal branch.$907.25
36014Pulmonary catheterization, selective pulmonary arterySelective catheter placement in an arterial branch rather than the venous system.$871.29
Used instead
36000Venous access, needle or intracatheterPeripheral venous needle access when selective catheter placement into a branch is not performed.No office rate

How 36012 has changed in Washington, DC area

36012 · Office / nonfacility

$936.67

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $32.11 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $904.56 to $936.67 (3.5%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $904.56changed to$936.67

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 3.51 changed to 3.42
    • Practice expense RVU 19.76 changed to 20.16
    • Malpractice RVU 0.60 changed to 0.62
    • Work GPCI 1.057 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.192 changed to 1.178
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.168 changed to 1.113

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $958.28changed to$904.56

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 20.48 changed to 19.76
    • Malpractice RVU 0.57 changed to 0.60

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $942.64changed to$958.28

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $1014.94changed to$942.64

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 21.06 changed to 20.48
    • Malpractice RVU 0.55 changed to 0.57
    • Work GPCI 1.056 changed to 1.057
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.214 changed to 1.192
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.231 changed to 1.168

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $1083.87changed to$1014.94

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 21.75 changed to 21.06
    • Malpractice RVU 0.57 changed to 0.55
    • Work GPCI 1.054 changed to 1.056
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.236 changed to 1.214
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.294 changed to 1.231

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $1124.75changed to$1083.87

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 22.50 changed to 21.75
    • Malpractice RVU 0.56 changed to 0.57

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $1083.58changed to$1124.75

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 21.01 changed to 22.50
    • Malpractice RVU 0.54 changed to 0.56
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.221 changed to 1.236
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.277 changed to 1.294

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $1044.79changed to$1083.58

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 20.46 changed to 21.01
    • Malpractice RVU 0.53 changed to 0.54
    • Work GPCI 1.045 changed to 1.049
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.221
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.261 changed to 1.277

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $1027.17changed to$1044.79

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 20.08 changed to 20.46

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $1027.12changed to$1027.17

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 20.16 changed to 20.08
    • Malpractice RVU 0.51 changed to 0.53
    • Work GPCI 1.048 changed to 1.045
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.271 changed to 1.261

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $1040.75changed to$1027.12

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 20.53 changed to 20.16
    • Malpractice RVU 0.50 changed to 0.51
    • Work GPCI 1.051 changed to 1.048
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.280 changed to 1.271

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $1044.96changed to$1040.75

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Malpractice RVU 0.51 changed to 0.50

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $1039.76changed to$1044.96

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $1037.61changed to$1039.76

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Malpractice RVU 0.50 changed to 0.51
    • Work GPCI 1.050 changed to 1.051
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.202 changed to 1.205
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.280

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $1065.61changed to$1037.61

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 22.58 changed to 20.53
    • Malpractice RVU 0.52 changed to 0.50
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.050
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.198 changed to 1.202
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.130 changed to 1.205

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $1065.61

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$936.67$165.48RVU26D
2026-07-01$936.67$165.48RVU26C
2026-04-01$936.67$165.48RVU26B
2026-01-01$936.67$165.48RVU26A
2025-10-01$904.56$182.39RVU25D
2025-07-01$904.56$182.39RVU25C
2025-04-01$904.56$182.39RVU25B
2025-01-01$904.56$182.39RVU25A
2024-10-01$958.28$184.94RVU24D
2024-07-01$958.28$184.94RVU24C
2024-04-01$958.28$184.94RVU24B
2024-03-09$958.28$184.94RVU24AR
2024-01-01$942.64$181.92RVU24A
2023-10-01$1,014.94$188.86RVU23D
2023-07-01$1,014.94$188.86RVU23C
2023-04-01$1,014.94$188.86RVU23B
2023-01-01$1,014.94$188.86RVU23A
2022-10-01$1,083.87$195.47RVU22D
2022-07-01$1,083.87$195.47RVU22C
2022-04-01$1,083.87$195.47RVU22B
2022-01-01$1,083.87$195.47RVU22A
2021-10-01$1,124.75$196.21RVU21D
2021-07-01$1,124.75$196.21RVU21C
2021-04-01$1,124.75$196.21RVU21B
2021-01-01$1,124.75$196.21RVU21A
2020-10-01$1,083.58$201.39RVU20D
2020-07-01$1,083.58$201.39RVU20C
2020-04-01$1,083.58$201.39RVU20B
2020-01-01$1,083.58$201.39RVU20A
2019-10-01$1,044.79$199.27RVU19D
2019-07-01$1,044.79$199.27RVU19C
2019-04-01$1,044.79$199.27RVU19B
2019-01-01$1,044.79$199.27RVU19A
2018-10-01$1,027.17$199.48RVU18D
2018-07-01$1,027.17$199.48RVU18C
2018-04-01$1,027.17$199.48RVU18B
2018-01-01$1,027.17$199.48RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$1,027.12$199.82RVU17D
2017-07-01$1,027.12$199.82RVU17C
2017-04-01$1,027.12$199.82RVU17B
2017-01-01$1,027.12$199.82RVU17A
2016-10-01$1,040.75$201.16RVU16D
2016-07-01$1,040.75$201.16RVU16C
2016-04-01$1,040.75$201.16RVU16B
2016-01-01$1,040.75$201.16RVU16A
2015-10-01$1,044.96$202.35RVU15D
2015-07-01$1,044.96$202.35RVU15C
2015-04-01$1,039.76$201.34RVU15B
2015-01-01$1,039.76$201.34RVU15A
2014-10-01$1,037.61$202.26RVU14D
2014-07-01$1,037.61$202.26RVU14C
2014-04-01$1,037.61$202.26RVU14B
2014-01-01$1,037.61$202.26RVU14A
2013-10-01$1,065.61$194.58RVU13D
2013-07-01$1,065.61$194.58RVU13C
2013-04-01$1,065.61$194.58RVU13B
2013-01-01$1,065.61$194.58RVU13AR

Price 36012 for an earlier date of service

Where the Washington, DC area rate applies

Washington, DC area is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1 cities and communities in District of Columbia. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Washington

Browse all communities in District of Columbia

36012 billing questions

When is 36012 used instead of 36011?

Use 36012 when the catheter reaches a second-order or more distal venous branch. Use 36011 for placement in a first-order branch.

How does 36012 differ from 36010?

36010 describes catheter placement in the vena cava. 36012 represents selective advancement from a larger vein into a more distal venous branch.

What documentation supports 36012?

The operative or procedure report should identify the target branch and show that the catheter was advanced beyond a first-order branch. Adrenal vein sampling is one example of a service where this level of selectivity may be documented.

Can venography or sampling be reported with 36012?

36012 represents catheter placement, not the imaging, interpretation, or sampling itself. Report another service only when it is separately supported and permitted by applicable coding rules.

How does CMS handle modifier 50 and multiple procedures?

For a bilateral service reported with modifier 50, CMS pays 36012 at 150%. In a session with multiple procedures, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.

CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027

Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
RVUs for 36012PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 4,435 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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