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CPT code 36217: Arterial catheterization, third order or higher2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Reports selective arterial catheter placement when the catheter is advanced into a third-order or more distal branch within a vascular family.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality3.9K Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $2,299.01 for 36217 in the office and $326.59 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$2,299.01Office (non-facility)
$326.59Hospital or facility
+16.3%vs the national office rate ($1,976.00)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 36217 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 36217 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 36217 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 36217 covers

A physician, commonly an interventional radiologist, vascular surgeon, or cardiologist, advances a catheter through an arterial access site into a selected branch at the third order or beyond. The code describes the catheter’s selective position, not the angiographic images or treatment performed there. It may accompany diagnostic angiography or an endovascular procedure when the catheter placement is separately reportable. The relevant selection is the branch order reached along the route through the vascular family, rather than distance traveled or the number of vessels imaged.

Documentation should identify the access route, vascular family, catheterized branch, and order reached, along with any separately reportable imaging or intervention. Use the lower-order code when the highest branch reached is first or second order; 36218 may apply to an additional qualifying branch. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. In a session with multiple procedures, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate; assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted, and co-surgeons and team surgery 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 Washington, DC area compares for 36217

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 36217 runs from $1,708.67 in Arkansas to $2,735.11 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $2,299.01. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

36217 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$2,299.01
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$2,282.01−$17.00
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$2,124.66−$174.35
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$2,052.21−$246.80
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$2,297.71−$1.30
  6. Alaska · Alaska$2,167.24−$131.77
  7. Alabama · Alabama$1,738.80−$560.21

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

Every other payment area

36217 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$1,708.67$270.37
ArizonaArizona$1,915.31$292.83
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$2,125.04$289.91
Chico, CACalifornia$2,120.90$285.77
El Centro, CACalifornia$2,121.16$286.03
Fresno, CACalifornia$2,120.90$285.77
Hanford, CACalifornia$2,120.90$285.77
Madera, CACalifornia$2,120.90$285.77

36217 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.

$1,708.67

$2,428.01

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

View every state and territory as a table
36217 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$2,167.241
AL$1,738.801
AR$1,708.671
AZ$1,915.311
CA$2,120.90–$2,735.1129
CO$2,077.351
CT$2,123.281
DC$2,299.011
DE$1,951.221
FL$1,926.02–$2,124.663
GA$1,800.03–$2,014.412
GU$2,190.141
HI$2,190.141
IA$1,798.971
ID$1,811.451
IL$1,855.12–$2,063.334
IN$1,824.161
KS$1,785.521
KY$1,780.721
LA$1,776.03–$1,881.462
MA$2,060.07–$2,312.482
MD$1,994.50–$2,299.013
ME$1,819.07–$1,941.662
MI$1,832.94–$1,950.852
MN$1,989.901
MO$1,737.29–$1,893.533
MS$1,723.561
MT$1,975.901
NC$1,842.301
ND$1,945.641
NE$1,811.761
NH$2,040.141
NJ$2,147.40–$2,267.592
NM$1,843.501
NV$1,969.181
NY$1,874.81–$2,358.005
OH$1,826.751
OK$1,780.551
OR$1,953.94–$2,157.132
PA$1,832.13–$2,060.072
PR$1,994.151
RI$2,031.131
SC$1,837.601
SD$1,942.061
TN$1,795.801
TX$1,817.56–$2,070.358
UT$1,867.581
VA$1,931.73–$2,299.012
VI$1,994.151
VT$1,933.551
WA$2,057.61–$2,367.362
WI$1,868.391
WV$1,772.681
WY$1,962.711

See 36217 in every payment locality

How the 36217 rate is calculated

Each of 36217’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 · 36217

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work6.13

6.13 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense51.50

51.50 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice1.53

1.53 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

59.1600

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$1,976.00

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

4,445

Code
36217
Physician work
6.13
Practice expense
51.50
Malpractice
1.53

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 36217 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work6.13× 1.0546.4610
Practice expense51.50× 1.17860.6670
Malpractice1.53× 1.1131.7029
Total RVUs68.8309
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$2299.01

Office: (6.13 × 1.054 + 51.5 × 1.178 + 1.53 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $2299.01

Facility: (6.13 × 1.054 + 1.37 × 1.178 + 1.53 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $326.59

Open 36217 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 36217

The CMS indicators that decide how 36217 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 36217

Arterial catheterization, third order or higher

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

36217 without 51 · national office

$1,976.00

Arterial catheterization, third order or higher

36217-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$988.00

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 36217

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

Codes related to 36217
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Same family
36215Arterial catheterization, first-order thoracic branchSelective placement at the first-order branch level within a vascular family.$1,235.37
36216Arterial catheterization, second-order branchSelective placement at the second-order branch level within a vascular family.$1,249.11
Add-on codes
36218Arterial catheterization, additional branch in same familyAdd-on code for an additional qualifying branch placement.$266.19
Used instead
36200Aortic catheterization, nonselective placementDescribes catheter placement in the aorta without the selective branch position represented by 36217.$654.78
36221Aortic arch angiography, nonselective thoracic aortaCovers a cervicocerebral angiography service rather than selective catheter position alone.$1,104.77

How 36217 has changed in Washington, DC area

36217 · Office / nonfacility

$2299.01

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $255.59 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $2043.42 to $2299.01 (12.5%).

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

    $2043.42changed to$2299.01

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 6.29 changed to 6.13
    • Practice expense RVU 45.95 changed to 51.50
    • Malpractice RVU 1.50 changed to 1.53
    • 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

    $2092.19changed to$2043.42

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 45.72 changed to 45.95
    • Malpractice RVU 1.46 changed to 1.50

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $2058.04changed to$2092.19

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $2170.52changed to$2058.04

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 45.90 changed to 45.72
    • Malpractice RVU 1.37 changed to 1.46
    • 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

    $2289.35changed to$2170.52

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 46.84 changed to 45.90
    • Malpractice RVU 1.26 changed to 1.37
    • 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

    $2408.37changed to$2289.35

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 49.17 changed to 46.84
    • Malpractice RVU 1.25 changed to 1.26

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $2340.29changed to$2408.37

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 46.44 changed to 49.17
    • Malpractice RVU 1.21 changed to 1.25
    • 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

    $2273.02changed to$2340.29

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 45.62 changed to 46.44
    • 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

    $2254.42changed to$2273.02

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 45.28 changed to 45.62
    • Malpractice RVU 1.18 changed to 1.21

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $2297.44changed to$2254.42

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 46.41 changed to 45.28
    • 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

    $2382.05changed to$2297.44

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 48.44 changed to 46.41
    • Malpractice RVU 1.21 changed to 1.18
    • 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

    $2302.42changed to$2382.05

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 46.36 changed to 48.44
    • Malpractice RVU 1.25 changed to 1.21

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $2290.97changed to$2302.42

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $2576.96changed to$2290.97

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 53.34 changed to 46.36
    • Malpractice RVU 1.01 changed to 1.25
    • 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

    $2619.52changed to$2576.96

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 57.76 changed to 53.34
    • Malpractice RVU 1.06 changed to 1.01
    • 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: $2619.52

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$2,299.01$326.59RVU26D
2026-07-01$2,299.01$326.59RVU26C
2026-04-01$2,299.01$326.59RVU26B
2026-01-01$2,299.01$326.59RVU26A
2025-10-01$2,043.42$355.78RVU25D
2025-07-01$2,043.42$355.78RVU25C
2025-04-01$2,043.42$355.78RVU25B
2025-01-01$2,043.42$355.78RVU25A
2024-10-01$2,092.19$358.63RVU24D
2024-07-01$2,092.19$358.63RVU24C
2024-04-01$2,092.19$358.63RVU24B
2024-03-09$2,092.19$358.63RVU24AR
2024-01-01$2,058.04$352.77RVU24A
2023-10-01$2,170.52$364.51RVU23D
2023-07-01$2,170.52$364.51RVU23C
2023-04-01$2,170.52$364.51RVU23B
2023-01-01$2,170.52$364.51RVU23A
2022-10-01$2,289.35$370.97RVU22D
2022-07-01$2,289.35$370.97RVU22C
2022-04-01$2,289.35$370.97RVU22B
2022-01-01$2,289.35$370.97RVU22A
2021-10-01$2,408.37$373.16RVU21D
2021-07-01$2,408.37$373.16RVU21C
2021-04-01$2,408.37$373.16RVU21B
2021-01-01$2,408.37$373.16RVU21A
2020-10-01$2,340.29$382.90RVU20D
2020-07-01$2,340.29$382.90RVU20C
2020-04-01$2,340.29$382.90RVU20B
2020-01-01$2,340.29$382.90RVU20A
2019-10-01$2,273.02$379.16RVU19D
2019-07-01$2,273.02$379.16RVU19C
2019-04-01$2,273.02$379.16RVU19B
2019-01-01$2,273.02$379.16RVU19A
2018-10-01$2,254.42$377.82RVU18D
2018-07-01$2,254.42$377.82RVU18C
2018-04-01$2,254.42$377.82RVU18B
2018-01-01$2,254.42$377.82RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$2,297.44$373.87RVU17D
2017-07-01$2,297.44$373.87RVU17C
2017-04-01$2,297.44$373.87RVU17B
2017-01-01$2,297.44$373.87RVU17A
2016-10-01$2,382.05$381.03RVU16D
2016-07-01$2,382.05$381.03RVU16C
2016-04-01$2,382.05$381.03RVU16B
2016-01-01$2,382.05$381.03RVU16A
2015-10-01$2,302.42$379.48RVU15D
2015-07-01$2,302.42$379.48RVU15C
2015-04-01$2,290.97$377.59RVU15B
2015-01-01$2,290.97$377.59RVU15A
2014-10-01$2,576.96$380.95RVU14D
2014-07-01$2,576.96$380.95RVU14C
2014-04-01$2,576.96$380.95RVU14B
2014-01-01$2,576.96$380.95RVU14A
2013-10-01$2,619.52$364.70RVU13D
2013-07-01$2,619.52$364.70RVU13C
2013-04-01$2,619.52$364.70RVU13B
2013-01-01$2,619.52$364.70RVU13AR

Price 36217 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

36217 billing questions

How is 36217 distinguished from 36216?

Choose 36217 when the catheter reaches a third-order or more distal branch within the vascular family. Use 36216 when it reaches a second-order branch.

Can 36217 be reported with angiography or an intervention?

It may be reported when the selective catheter placement is separately reportable from the imaging or treatment. Do not separately report catheter-placement work that is included in a more comprehensive service.

When is 36218 reported with 36217?

36218 is for an additional qualifying second-order or more distal branch within the same vascular family. Document the additional catheterized branch; it is not a substitute for the primary placement code.

What documentation supports 36217?

The report should show the catheter route, vascular family, specific branch reached, and branch order. Documentation should distinguish the primary selective placement from any additional branch placement.

Should modifier 50 be appended for bilateral catheterization?

No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply to 36217, and modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code.

How does the multiple-procedure rule affect payment?

When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, CMS pays the highest-valued procedure in full and applies the standard reduction to the others. The code has a 0-day global period.

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 36217PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 4,445 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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