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CPT code 36246: Selective catheterization, second-order branch2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Los Angeles, CA

Reports selective catheter placement into a second-order abdominal, pelvic, or lower-extremity arterial branch during angiography or endovascular treatment.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality24.1K Medicare services in 2024

In Los Angeles, CA, Medicare pays $902.58 for 36246 in the office and $220.58 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$902.58Office (non-facility)
$220.58Hospital or facility
+13.1%vs the national office rate ($797.95)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 36246 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 36246 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Los Angeles, CA
  2. What 36246 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 36246 covers

This service covers advancing a catheter selectively into a second-order branch of the abdominal, pelvic, or lower-extremity arterial system. Interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons, and other physicians performing vascular procedures may use it to reach a target branch for diagnostic angiography or endovascular treatment in an angiography suite, catheterization laboratory, or operating room.

Choose the code according to the most selective branch reached in the vascular family: 36246 represents a second-order selection, while a third-order selection in that family is reported at the higher level. Document the access route, vascular family, target branch, and catheter position; catheter exchanges or imaging runs alone do not establish another selective placement. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in one session, Medicare pays the highest-valued procedure in full and other procedures at 50%. Modifier 50 for a bilateral procedure is paid at 150%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code; 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 Los Angeles, CA compares for 36246

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 36246 runs from $696.40 in Arkansas to $1,064.64 in San Benito County, CA. Los Angeles, CA pays $902.58. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

36246 in Los Angeles, CA vs other payment areas
  1. Los Angeles, CA · this page$902.58
  2. Bakersfield, CA · California$844.89−$57.69
  3. Chico, CA · California$842.01−$60.57
  4. El Centro, CA · California$842.18−$60.40
  5. Fresno, CA · California$842.01−$60.57
  6. Hanford, CA · California$842.01−$60.57
  7. Madera, CA · California$842.01−$60.57

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

Every other payment area

36246 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Merced, CACalifornia$842.01$210.16
Modesto, CACalifornia$842.01$210.16
Napa, CACalifornia$981.64$221.81
Oxnard, CACalifornia$898.42$216.99
Redding, CACalifornia$842.01$210.16
Rest of CaliforniaCalifornia$842.01$210.16
Riverside, CACalifornia$853.29$221.44
Sacramento, CACalifornia$885.28$214.81

36246 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.

$696.40

$953.33

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

View every state and territory as a table
36246 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$902.841
AL$707.781
AR$696.401
AZ$774.311
CA$842.01–$1,064.6429
CO$830.601
CT$854.741
DC$917.451
DE$788.031
FL$789.21–$876.153
GA$739.93–$815.082
GU$865.321
HI$865.321
IA$725.841
ID$731.501
IL$765.53–$847.514
IN$736.151
KS$723.001
KY$728.421
LA$727.53–$767.342
MA$825.22–$917.102
MD$803.90–$917.453
ME$736.73–$779.612
MI$750.31–$801.022
MN$790.641
MO$714.30–$769.243
MS$705.461
MT$797.881
NC$745.121
ND$777.121
NE$729.971
NH$818.151
NJ$863.04–$906.552
NM$755.231
NV$792.691
NY$757.55–$951.775
OH$746.071
OK$725.981
OR$785.13–$858.132
PA$746.86–$832.242
PR$804.021
RI$817.051
SC$747.121
SD$774.661
TN$727.151
TX$741.50–$829.058
UT$758.401
VA$777.44–$917.452
VI$804.021
VT$774.631
WA$823.46–$935.792
WI$748.501
WV$734.521
WY$788.831

See 36246 in every payment locality

How the 36246 rate is calculated

Each of 36246’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 · 36246

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work4.89

4.89 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense17.95

17.95 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice1.05

1.05 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

23.8900

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$797.95

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

The exact Los Angeles, CA inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

4,456

Code
36246
Physician work
4.89
Practice expense
17.95
Malpractice
1.05

GPCI2026.csv

13

Locality
Los Angeles, CA
Physician work
1.041
Practice expense
1.183
Malpractice
0.664
Office calculation for 36246 in Los Angeles, CA
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work4.89× 1.0415.0905
Practice expense17.95× 1.18321.2349
Malpractice1.05× 0.6640.6972
Total RVUs27.0225
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Los Angeles, CA$902.58

Office: (4.89 × 1.041 + 17.95 × 1.183 + 1.05 × 0.664) × $33.4009 = $902.58

Facility: (4.89 × 1.041 + 0.69 × 1.183 + 1.05 × 0.664) × $33.4009 = $220.58

Open 36246 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 36246

The CMS indicators that decide how 36246 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 36246

Selective 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)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

36246 without 50 · national office

$797.95

Selective catheterization, second-order branch

36246-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$1,196.93

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 36246

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

Codes related to 36246
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Los Angeles, CA
Same family
36245Selective catheterization, first-order abdominal or leg branchReports first-order placement in an abdominal, pelvic, or lower-extremity arterial family.$1,381.74
36247Selective catheterization, third order or beyondReports third-order placement in the same arterial regions.$1,559.14
Add-on codes
36248Selective catheterization, additional abdominal or limb branchAdd-on code for additional qualifying branch selections in the vascular family.$126.04
Used instead
36200Aortic catheterization, nonselective placementDescribes aortic catheter placement rather than selective second-order branch placement.$646.59

How 36246 has changed in Los Angeles, CA

36246 · Office / nonfacility

$902.58

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $25.08 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $877.50 to $902.58 (2.9%).

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

    $877.50changed to$902.58

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 5.02 changed to 4.89
    • Practice expense RVU 17.75 changed to 17.95
    • Malpractice RVU 1.02 changed to 1.05
    • Work GPCI 1.042 changed to 1.041
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.194 changed to 1.183
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.690 changed to 0.664

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $934.09changed to$877.50

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 18.52 changed to 17.75
    • Malpractice RVU 1.04 changed to 1.02

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $918.85changed to$934.09

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $966.79changed to$918.85

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 19.05 changed to 18.52
    • Malpractice RVU 0.98 changed to 1.04
    • Work GPCI 1.045 changed to 1.042
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.185 changed to 1.194
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.724 changed to 0.690

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $1011.60changed to$966.79

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 19.75 changed to 19.05
    • Malpractice RVU 1.01 changed to 0.98
    • Work GPCI 1.048 changed to 1.045
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.175 changed to 1.185
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.757 changed to 0.724

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $1034.63changed to$1011.60

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 20.12 changed to 19.75
    • Malpractice RVU 0.99 changed to 1.01

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $1002.94changed to$1034.63

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 18.57 changed to 20.12
    • Malpractice RVU 0.96 changed to 0.99
    • Work GPCI 1.047 changed to 1.048
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.176 changed to 1.175
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.725 changed to 0.757

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $968.96changed to$1002.94

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 17.81 changed to 18.57
    • Malpractice RVU 0.97 changed to 0.96
    • Work GPCI 1.046 changed to 1.047
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.177 changed to 1.176
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.694 changed to 0.725

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $947.74changed to$968.96

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 17.34 changed to 17.81
    • Malpractice RVU 0.96 changed to 0.97

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $944.41changed to$947.74

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 17.35 changed to 17.34
    • Malpractice RVU 0.97 changed to 0.96
    • Work GPCI 1.047 changed to 1.046
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.169 changed to 1.177
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.801 changed to 0.694

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $1025.93changed to$944.41

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Work RVU 5.27 changed to 5.02
    • Practice expense RVU 19.13 changed to 17.35
    • Malpractice RVU 1.02 changed to 0.97
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.161 changed to 1.169
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.908 changed to 0.801

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $1029.45changed to$1025.93

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 19.11 changed to 19.13
    • Malpractice RVU 1.04 changed to 1.02

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $1024.33changed to$1029.45

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $1015.13changed to$1024.33

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 19.10 changed to 19.11
    • Malpractice RVU 0.94 changed to 1.04
    • Work GPCI 1.042 changed to 1.047
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.158 changed to 1.161
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.775 changed to 0.908

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $1040.31changed to$1015.13

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 21.22 changed to 19.10
    • Malpractice RVU 0.98 changed to 0.94
    • Work GPCI 1.036 changed to 1.042
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.154 changed to 1.158
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.642 changed to 0.775

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. October 1, 2013

    RVU13D

    No ratechanged to$1040.31

  17. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$902.58$220.58RVU26D
2026-07-01$902.58$220.58RVU26C
2026-04-01$902.58$220.58RVU26B
2026-01-01$902.58$220.58RVU26A
2025-10-01$877.50$243.72RVU25D
2025-07-01$877.50$243.72RVU25C
2025-04-01$877.50$243.72RVU25B
2025-01-01$877.50$243.72RVU25A
2024-10-01$934.09$250.47RVU24D
2024-07-01$934.09$250.47RVU24C
2024-04-01$934.09$250.47RVU24B
2024-03-09$934.09$250.47RVU24AR
2024-01-01$918.85$246.38RVU24A
2023-10-01$966.79$255.22RVU23D
2023-07-01$966.79$255.22RVU23C
2023-04-01$966.79$255.22RVU23B
2023-01-01$966.79$255.22RVU23A
2022-10-01$1,011.60$263.01RVU22D
2022-07-01$1,011.60$263.01RVU22C
2022-04-01$1,011.60$263.01RVU22B
2022-01-01$1,011.60$263.01RVU22A
2021-10-01$1,034.63$265.07RVU21D
2021-07-01$1,034.63$265.07RVU21C
2021-04-01$1,034.63$265.07RVU21B
2021-01-01$1,034.63$265.07RVU21A
2020-10-01$1,002.94$272.95RVU20D
2020-07-01$1,002.94$272.95RVU20C
2020-04-01$1,002.94$272.95RVU20B
2020-01-01$1,002.94$272.95RVU20A
2019-10-01$968.96$272.88RVU19D
2019-07-01$968.96$272.88RVU19C
2019-04-01$968.96$272.88RVU19B
2019-01-01$968.96$272.88RVU19A
2018-10-01$947.74$273.61RVU18D
2018-07-01$947.74$273.61RVU18C
2018-04-01$947.74$273.61RVU18B
2018-01-01$947.74$273.61RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$944.41$278.19RVU17D
2017-07-01$944.41$278.19RVU17C
2017-04-01$944.41$278.19RVU17B
2017-01-01$944.41$278.19RVU17A
2016-10-01$1,025.93$295.98RVU16D
2016-07-01$1,025.93$295.98RVU16C
2016-04-01$1,025.93$295.98RVU16B
2016-01-01$1,025.93$295.98RVU16A
2015-10-01$1,029.45$297.70RVU15D
2015-07-01$1,029.45$297.70RVU15C
2015-04-01$1,024.33$296.22RVU15B
2015-01-01$1,024.33$296.22RVU15A
2014-10-01$1,015.13$289.60RVU14D
2014-07-01$1,015.13$289.60RVU14C
2014-04-01$1,015.13$289.60RVU14B
2014-01-01$1,015.13$289.60RVU14A
2013-10-01$1,040.31$275.09RVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price 36246 for an earlier date of service

Where the Los Angeles, CA rate applies

Los Angeles, CA is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 189 cities and communities in California. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Anaheim
  • Long Beach
  • Los Angeles
  • Orange
  • Acton
  • Agoura Hills
  • Agua Dulce
  • Alhambra

Browse all communities in California

36246 billing questions

How does 36246 differ from 36245 and 36247?

Select 36246 when the catheter reaches a second-order branch in the abdominal, pelvic, or lower-extremity arterial system. Use 36245 for first-order placement and 36247 for third-order placement in the vascular family.

Can angiography or treatment be reported separately?

36246 describes selective catheter placement, not the imaging or treatment itself. Report other services only when they were performed, documented, and separately reportable under their code instructions.

When is 36248 reported with 36246?

36248 is an add-on for an additional qualifying second-order, third-order, or more distal branch selection in the same vascular family. The record should show the additional branch catheterized.

Are units based on catheter exchanges or angiographic runs?

No. Select the code based on the order of the branch reached and the vascular family; a catheter exchange or another imaging run alone is not an additional selective placement.

How is bilateral reporting handled?

For a bilateral procedure, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. The documentation should support selective catheterization on both sides.

Does the code have a postoperative global period?

It has a 0-day global period. Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included.

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 36246PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 4,456 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Los Angeles, CAGPCI2026.csv, line 13 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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