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CPT code 36217: Arterial catheterization, third order or higher2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Houston, TX

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 Houston, TX, Medicare pays $1,984.81 for 36217 in the office and $322.14 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$1,984.81Office (non-facility)
$322.14Hospital or facility
+0.4%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 Houston, TX
  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 Houston, TX 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. Houston, TX pays $1,984.81. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

36217 in Houston, TX vs other payment areas
  1. Houston, TX · this page$1,984.81
  2. Austin, TX · Texas$2,070.35+$85.54
  3. Beaumont, TX · Texas$1,817.56−$167.25
  4. Brazoria, TX · Texas$1,950.91−$33.90
  5. Dallas, TX · Texas$1,963.70−$21.11
  6. Fort Worth, TX · Texas$1,947.17−$37.64
  7. Galveston, TX · Texas$1,956.80−$28.01

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

Every other payment area

36217 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Rest of TexasTexas$1,883.31$294.32
Los Angeles, CACalifornia$2,282.01$301.21
Washington, DC areaDistrict of Columbia$2,299.01$326.59
Miami, FLFlorida$2,124.66$381.62
Chicago, ILIllinois$2,052.21$369.45
Manhattan, NYNew York$2,297.71$352.07
AlaskaAlaska$2,167.24$384.01
AlabamaAlabama$1,738.80$273.71

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 Houston, TX 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

102

Locality
Houston, TX
Physician work
1.008
Practice expense
0.993
Malpractice
1.376
Office calculation for 36217 in Houston, TX
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work6.13× 1.0086.1790
Practice expense51.50× 0.99351.1395
Malpractice1.53× 1.3762.1053
Total RVUs59.4238
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Houston, TX$1984.81

Office: (6.13 × 1.008 + 51.5 × 0.993 + 1.53 × 1.376) × $33.4009 = $1984.81

Facility: (6.13 × 1.008 + 1.37 × 0.993 + 1.53 × 1.376) × $33.4009 = $322.14

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, Houston, TX
Same family
36215Arterial catheterization, first-order thoracic branchSelective placement at the first-order branch level within a vascular family.$1,066.67
36216Arterial catheterization, second-order branchSelective placement at the second-order branch level within a vascular family.$1,089.99
Add-on codes
36218Arterial catheterization, additional branch in same familyAdd-on code for an additional qualifying branch placement.$231.37
Used instead
36200Aortic catheterization, nonselective placementDescribes catheter placement in the aorta without the selective branch position represented by 36217.$571.80
36221Aortic arch angiography, nonselective thoracic aortaCovers a cervicocerebral angiography service rather than selective catheter position alone.$959.68

How 36217 has changed in Houston, TX

36217 · Office / nonfacility

$1984.81

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $219.36 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $1765.45 to $1984.81 (12.4%).

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

    $1765.45changed to$1984.81

    • 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 1.014 changed to 1.008
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.003 changed to 0.993
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.409 changed to 1.376

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $1807.26changed to$1765.45

    • 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

    $1777.76changed to$1807.26

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $1851.94changed to$1777.76

    • 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 1.023 changed to 1.014
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.016 changed to 1.003
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.154 changed to 1.409

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $1931.84changed to$1851.94

    • 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 1.032 changed to 1.023
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.029 changed to 1.016
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.900 changed to 1.154

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $2031.20changed to$1931.84

    • 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

    $1982.51changed to$2031.20

    • 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 1.026 changed to 1.032
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.020 changed to 1.029
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.918 changed to 0.900

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $1935.87changed to$1982.51

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 45.62 changed to 46.44
    • Work GPCI 1.020 changed to 1.026
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.012 changed to 1.020
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.936 changed to 0.918

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $1920.35changed to$1935.87

    • 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

    $1950.90changed to$1920.35

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 46.41 changed to 45.28
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.012
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.946 changed to 0.936

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $2015.63changed to$1950.90

    • 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 1.019 changed to 1.020
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.006 changed to 1.009
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.955 changed to 0.946

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $1949.08changed to$2015.63

    • 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

    $1939.39changed to$1949.08

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $2180.89changed to$1939.39

    • 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 1.014 changed to 1.019
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.004 changed to 1.006
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.939 changed to 0.955

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $2218.32changed to$2180.89

    • 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 1.009 changed to 1.014
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.002 changed to 1.004
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.923 changed to 0.939

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $2218.32

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$1,984.81$322.14RVU26D
2026-07-01$1,984.81$322.14RVU26C
2026-04-01$1,984.81$322.14RVU26B
2026-01-01$1,984.81$322.14RVU26A
2025-10-01$1,765.45$345.40RVU25D
2025-07-01$1,765.45$345.40RVU25C
2025-04-01$1,765.45$345.40RVU25B
2025-01-01$1,765.45$345.40RVU25A
2024-10-01$1,807.26$348.56RVU24D
2024-07-01$1,807.26$348.56RVU24C
2024-04-01$1,807.26$348.56RVU24B
2024-03-09$1,807.26$348.56RVU24AR
2024-01-01$1,777.76$342.87RVU24A
2023-10-01$1,851.94$340.49RVU23D
2023-07-01$1,851.94$340.49RVU23C
2023-04-01$1,851.94$340.49RVU23B
2023-01-01$1,851.94$340.49RVU23A
2022-10-01$1,931.84$334.75RVU22D
2022-07-01$1,931.84$334.75RVU22C
2022-04-01$1,931.84$334.75RVU22B
2022-01-01$1,931.84$334.75RVU22A
2021-10-01$2,031.20$336.85RVU21D
2021-07-01$2,031.20$336.85RVU21C
2021-04-01$2,031.20$336.85RVU21B
2021-01-01$2,031.20$336.85RVU21A
2020-10-01$1,982.51$347.35RVU20D
2020-07-01$1,982.51$347.35RVU20C
2020-04-01$1,982.51$347.35RVU20B
2020-01-01$1,982.51$347.35RVU20A
2019-10-01$1,935.87$345.34RVU19D
2019-07-01$1,935.87$345.34RVU19C
2019-04-01$1,935.87$345.34RVU19B
2019-01-01$1,935.87$345.34RVU19A
2018-10-01$1,920.35$344.32RVU18D
2018-07-01$1,920.35$344.32RVU18C
2018-04-01$1,920.35$344.32RVU18B
2018-01-01$1,920.35$344.32RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$1,950.90$340.21RVU17D
2017-07-01$1,950.90$340.21RVU17C
2017-04-01$1,950.90$340.21RVU17B
2017-01-01$1,950.90$340.21RVU17A
2016-10-01$2,015.63$345.06RVU16D
2016-07-01$2,015.63$345.06RVU16C
2016-04-01$2,015.63$345.06RVU16B
2016-01-01$2,015.63$345.06RVU16A
2015-10-01$1,949.08$343.70RVU15D
2015-07-01$1,949.08$343.70RVU15C
2015-04-01$1,939.39$341.99RVU15B
2015-01-01$1,939.39$341.99RVU15A
2014-10-01$2,180.89$346.61RVU14D
2014-07-01$2,180.89$346.61RVU14C
2014-04-01$2,180.89$346.61RVU14B
2014-01-01$2,180.89$346.61RVU14A
2013-10-01$2,218.32$332.40RVU13D
2013-07-01$2,218.32$332.40RVU13C
2013-04-01$2,218.32$332.40RVU13B
2013-01-01$2,218.32$332.40RVU13AR

Price 36217 for an earlier date of service

Where the Houston, TX rate applies

Houston, TX is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 46 cities and communities in Texas. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

Browse all communities in Texas

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 Houston, TXGPCI2026.csv, line 102 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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