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CPT code 36216: Arterial catheterization, second-order branch2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Colorado

Reports selective catheter placement into a second-order thoracic or brachiocephalic arterial branch during a diagnostic or interventional vascular procedure.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality2.5K Medicare services in 2024

In Colorado, Medicare pays $1,130.06 for 36216 in the office and $239.47 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$1,130.06Office (non-facility)
$239.47Hospital or facility
+4.6%vs the national office rate ($1,080.52)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 36216 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 36216 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Colorado
  2. What 36216 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 36216 covers

A physician advances a catheter through an arterial route into a second-order branch in the thoracic or brachiocephalic arterial distribution. This selective positioning may support angiography or an endovascular procedure, commonly in a hospital catheterization or angiography suite. Interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons, and other physicians performing catheter-based vascular services may report the placement when the documented catheter path reaches this branch level.

Choose the code from the vessel hierarchy and the catheter tip’s destination, not from the number of imaging runs or the clinical diagnosis. The record should identify the access route, vessels traversed, target branch, and related imaging or intervention. The procedure has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures occur in one session, CMS pays the highest-valued procedure in full and reduces others under its standard multiple procedure rule. Modifier 50 is inappropriate; assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted, and co-surgeon and team-surgery billing are not permitted.

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 Colorado compares for 36216

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 36216 runs from $939.39 in Arkansas to $1,466.92 in San Benito County, CA. Colorado pays $1,130.06. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

36216 in Colorado vs other payment areas
  1. Colorado · this page$1,130.06
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$1,234.29+$104.23
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$1,249.11+$119.05
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$1,173.94+$43.88
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$1,134.95+$4.89
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$1,254.74+$124.68
  7. Alaska · Alaska$1,206.03+$75.97

Other areas in Colorado first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

36216 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$955.25$222.85
ArkansasArkansas$939.39$220.38
ArizonaArizona$1,048.08$237.00
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$1,152.65$235.27
Chico, CACalifornia$1,149.55$232.17
El Centro, CACalifornia$1,149.74$232.36
Fresno, CACalifornia$1,149.55$232.17
Hanford, CACalifornia$1,149.55$232.17

36216 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.

$939.39

$1,308.24

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

View every state and territory as a table
36216 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$1,206.031
AL$955.251
AR$939.391
AZ$1,048.081
CA$1,149.55–$1,466.9229
CO$1,130.061
CT$1,158.951
DC$1,249.111
DE$1,067.111
FL$1,061.18–$1,173.943
GA$993.69–$1,102.562
GU$1,183.971
HI$1,183.971
IA$983.721
ID$990.941
IL$1,025.98–$1,134.954
IN$997.531
KS$978.171
KY$980.621
LA$978.76–$1,034.262
MA$1,121.77–$1,252.402
MD$1,089.59–$1,249.113
ME$996.56–$1,058.752
MI$1,009.60–$1,075.922
MN$1,079.211
MO$959.33–$1,038.783
MS$949.591
MT$1,080.441
NC$1,008.531
ND$1,058.101
NE$989.971
NH$1,111.521
NJ$1,171.19–$1,233.282
NM$1,015.801
NV$1,075.091
NY$1,025.75–$1,288.495
OH$1,005.041
OK$978.901
OR$1,065.83–$1,170.302
PA$1,007.01–$1,126.612
PR$1,089.541
RI$1,108.451
SC$1,008.651
SD$1,055.461
TN$983.771
TX$999.44–$1,127.088
UT$1,024.401
VA$1,054.61–$1,249.112
VI$1,089.541
VT$1,053.161
WA$1,119.90–$1,279.932
WI$1,017.811
WV$982.671
WY$1,070.711

See 36216 in every payment locality

How the 36216 rate is calculated

Each of 36216’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 · 36216

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work5.14

5.14 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense26.08

26.08 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice1.13

1.13 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

32.3500

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$1,080.52

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

The exact Colorado inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

4,444

Code
36216
Physician work
5.14
Practice expense
26.08
Malpractice
1.13

GPCI2026.csv

37

Locality
Colorado
Physician work
1.012
Practice expense
1.064
Malpractice
0.781
Office calculation for 36216 in Colorado
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work5.14× 1.0125.2017
Practice expense26.08× 1.06427.7491
Malpractice1.13× 0.7810.8825
Total RVUs33.8333
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Colorado$1130.06

Office: (5.14 × 1.012 + 26.08 × 1.064 + 1.13 × 0.781) × $33.4009 = $1130.06

Facility: (5.14 × 1.012 + 1.02 × 1.064 + 1.13 × 0.781) × $33.4009 = $239.47

Open 36216 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 36216

The CMS indicators that decide how 36216 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 36216

Arterial catheterization, second-order branch

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
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 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

36216 without 51 · national office

$1,080.52

Arterial catheterization, second-order branch

36216-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$540.26

When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).

When to use modifier 51

Codes related to 36216

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

Codes related to 36216
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Colorado
Same family
36215Arterial catheterization, first-order thoracic branchSibling code for selective catheter placement at the first-order branch level.$1,119.33
36217Arterial catheterization, third order or higherSibling code for a third-order or more selective branch placement.$2,077.35
Add-on codes
36218Arterial catheterization, additional branch in same familyAdd-on code for each additional qualifying second-order or more selective branch.$240.82
Used instead
36222Carotid angiography, common carotid, extracranialCervicocerebral angiography code that includes catheter placement for its defined service.$1,318.83

How 36216 has changed in Colorado

36216 · Office / nonfacility

$1130.06

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $98.25 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $1031.81 to $1130.06 (9.5%).

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

    $1031.81changed to$1130.06

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 5.27 changed to 5.14
    • Practice expense RVU 24.40 changed to 26.08
    • Malpractice RVU 1.08 changed to 1.13
    • Work GPCI 1.008 changed to 1.012
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.053 changed to 1.064
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.827 changed to 0.781

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $1086.63changed to$1031.81

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 25.10 changed to 24.40
    • Malpractice RVU 1.09 changed to 1.08

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $1068.90changed to$1086.63

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $1120.85changed to$1068.90

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 25.69 changed to 25.10
    • Malpractice RVU 1.01 changed to 1.09
    • Work GPCI 1.005 changed to 1.008
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.050 changed to 1.053
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.797 changed to 0.827

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $1172.00changed to$1120.85

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 26.59 changed to 25.69
    • Malpractice RVU 0.98 changed to 1.01
    • Work GPCI 1.001 changed to 1.005
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.047 changed to 1.050
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.767 changed to 0.797

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $1231.33changed to$1172.00

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 27.97 changed to 26.59
    • Malpractice RVU 0.95 changed to 0.98

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $1203.56changed to$1231.33

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 26.35 changed to 27.97
    • Work GPCI 1.000 changed to 1.001
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.033 changed to 1.047
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.905 changed to 0.767

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $1159.70changed to$1203.56

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 25.43 changed to 26.35
    • Malpractice RVU 0.98 changed to 0.95
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.018 changed to 1.033
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.042 changed to 0.905

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $1135.70changed to$1159.70

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 24.82 changed to 25.43
    • Malpractice RVU 0.97 changed to 0.98

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $1198.13changed to$1135.70

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 26.67 changed to 24.82
    • Malpractice RVU 0.98 changed to 0.97
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.015 changed to 1.018
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.066 changed to 1.042

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $1231.21changed to$1198.13

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 27.69 changed to 26.67
    • Malpractice RVU 1.03 changed to 0.98
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.011 changed to 1.015
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.090 changed to 1.066

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $1212.43changed to$1231.21

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 27.04 changed to 27.69
    • Malpractice RVU 1.04 changed to 1.03

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $1206.40changed to$1212.43

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $1271.57changed to$1206.40

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 29.12 changed to 27.04
    • Malpractice RVU 0.89 changed to 1.04
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.008 changed to 1.011
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.981 changed to 1.090

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $1287.69changed to$1271.57

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 31.64 changed to 29.12
    • Malpractice RVU 0.93 changed to 0.89
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.004 changed to 1.008
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.872 changed to 0.981

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $1287.69

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$1,130.06$239.47RVU26D
2026-07-01$1,130.06$239.47RVU26C
2026-04-01$1,130.06$239.47RVU26B
2026-01-01$1,130.06$239.47RVU26A
2025-10-01$1,031.81$257.60RVU25D
2025-07-01$1,031.81$257.60RVU25C
2025-04-01$1,031.81$257.60RVU25B
2025-01-01$1,031.81$257.60RVU25A
2024-10-01$1,086.63$263.27RVU24D
2024-07-01$1,086.63$263.27RVU24C
2024-04-01$1,086.63$263.27RVU24B
2024-03-09$1,086.63$263.27RVU24AR
2024-01-01$1,068.90$258.97RVU24A
2023-10-01$1,120.85$264.40RVU23D
2023-07-01$1,120.85$264.40RVU23C
2023-04-01$1,120.85$264.40RVU23B
2023-01-01$1,120.85$264.40RVU23A
2022-10-01$1,172.00$267.63RVU22D
2022-07-01$1,172.00$267.63RVU22C
2022-04-01$1,172.00$267.63RVU22B
2022-01-01$1,172.00$267.63RVU22A
2021-10-01$1,231.33$270.14RVU21D
2021-07-01$1,231.33$270.14RVU21C
2021-04-01$1,231.33$270.14RVU21B
2021-01-01$1,231.33$270.14RVU21A
2020-10-01$1,203.56$283.85RVU20D
2020-07-01$1,203.56$283.85RVU20C
2020-04-01$1,203.56$283.85RVU20B
2020-01-01$1,203.56$283.85RVU20A
2019-10-01$1,159.70$288.36RVU19D
2019-07-01$1,159.70$288.36RVU19C
2019-04-01$1,159.70$288.36RVU19B
2019-01-01$1,159.70$288.36RVU19A
2018-10-01$1,135.70$288.77RVU18D
2018-07-01$1,135.70$288.77RVU18C
2018-04-01$1,135.70$288.77RVU18B
2018-01-01$1,135.70$288.77RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$1,198.13$286.73RVU17D
2017-07-01$1,198.13$286.73RVU17C
2017-04-01$1,198.13$286.73RVU17B
2017-01-01$1,198.13$286.73RVU17A
2016-10-01$1,231.21$291.87RVU16D
2016-07-01$1,231.21$291.87RVU16C
2016-04-01$1,231.21$291.87RVU16B
2016-01-01$1,231.21$291.87RVU16A
2015-10-01$1,212.43$291.50RVU15D
2015-07-01$1,212.43$291.50RVU15C
2015-04-01$1,206.40$290.05RVU15B
2015-01-01$1,206.40$290.05RVU15A
2014-10-01$1,271.57$287.95RVU14D
2014-07-01$1,271.57$287.95RVU14C
2014-04-01$1,271.57$287.95RVU14B
2014-01-01$1,271.57$287.95RVU14A
2013-10-01$1,287.69$274.53RVU13D
2013-07-01$1,287.69$274.53RVU13C
2013-04-01$1,287.69$274.53RVU13B
2013-01-01$1,287.69$274.53RVU13AR

Price 36216 for an earlier date of service

Where the Colorado rate applies

Colorado is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 485 cities and communities in Colorado. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Acres Green
  • Aetna Estates
  • Aguilar
  • Air Force Academy
  • Akron
  • Alamosa
  • Alamosa East
  • Allenspark

Browse all communities in Colorado

36216 billing questions

How does 36216 differ from 36215 and 36217?

Select by catheter destination within the arterial tree: 36215 represents a first-order branch, 36216 a second-order branch, and 36217 a third-order or more selective branch.

Can 36216 be reported for each additional branch selected?

Use 36216 for the qualifying second-order placement. For each additional second-order or more selective branch in the same vascular family, consider add-on code 36218 when its reporting criteria are met.

What documentation supports 36216?

Document the access route, the vessels traversed, the target branch and its order, and the diagnostic or therapeutic service associated with the catheter placement.

Should 36216 be reported with cervicocerebral angiography codes?

Codes such as 36222 describe cervicocerebral angiography services that include catheter placement. Do not separately add 36216 for catheter work already represented by that service.

Can modifier 50 or an assistant-at-surgery modifier be used?

Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

How does CMS reduce payment when other procedures are performed in the session?

The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures subject to the standard multiple procedure rule are paid 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 36216PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 4,444 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for ColoradoGPCI2026.csv, line 37 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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