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CPT code 36251: Renal angiography, unilateral, main artery2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in King County, WA

Report this service for selective catheterization and angiographic imaging of one kidney’s main renal artery and any accessory renal arteries.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality2.3K Medicare services in 2024

In King County, WA, Medicare pays $1,462.09 for 36251 in the office and $233.01 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$1,462.09Office (non-facility)
$233.01Hospital or facility
+19.2%vs the national office rate ($1,226.15)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 36251 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 36251 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in King County, WA
  2. What 36251 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 36251 covers

An interventional radiologist, vascular surgeon, or interventional cardiologist selectively advances a catheter into the main renal artery and any accessory renal arteries on one side to obtain renal angiographic images. The service may help evaluate suspected renal artery narrowing or define anatomy during a renal artery intervention, typically in an angiography or catheterization suite. The code includes the imaging guidance and roadmapping needed for the renal angiography; it is not limited to catheter placement alone.

Report one unilateral service when the main renal artery and any accessory arteries on that side are evaluated. Use the branch-level renal code when catheterization extends to segmental or subsegmental branches, and the bilateral code when both kidneys are treated. The record should identify the side, catheterized vessels, and angiographic work performed. 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 King County, WA compares for 36251

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 36251 runs from $1,065.75 in Arkansas to $1,684.24 in San Benito County, CA. King County, WA pays $1,462.09. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

36251 in King County, WA vs other payment areas
  1. King County, WA · this page$1,462.09
  2. Rest of Washington · Washington$1,275.23−$186.86
  3. Los Angeles, CA · California$1,410.49−$51.60
  4. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$1,421.75−$40.34
  5. Miami, FL · Florida$1,316.83−$145.26
  6. Chicago, IL · Illinois$1,273.54−$188.55
  7. Manhattan, NY · New York$1,421.97−$40.12

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

Every other payment area

36251 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlaskaAlaska$1,361.75$294.94
AlabamaAlabama$1,083.82$207.34
ArkansasArkansas$1,065.75$205.30
ArizonaArizona$1,189.70$219.06
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$1,315.62$217.77
Chico, CACalifornia$1,312.97$215.12
El Centro, CACalifornia$1,313.13$215.28
Fresno, CACalifornia$1,312.97$215.12

36251 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.

$1,065.75

$1,498.61

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

View every state and territory as a table
36251 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$1,361.751
AL$1,083.821
AR$1,065.751
AZ$1,189.701
CA$1,312.97–$1,684.2429
CO$1,287.011
CT$1,315.321
DC$1,421.751
DE$1,211.431
FL$1,196.86–$1,316.833
GA$1,121.17–$1,249.482
GU$1,353.681
HI$1,353.681
IA$1,119.601
ID$1,127.151
IL$1,154.54–$1,279.574
IN$1,134.761
KS$1,111.681
KY$1,109.301
LA$1,106.55–$1,169.792
MA$1,276.87–$1,428.982
MD$1,237.55–$1,421.753
ME$1,131.88–$1,205.182
MI$1,140.77–$1,211.922
MN$1,233.631
MO$1,083.40–$1,176.853
MS$1,074.921
MT$1,226.081
NC$1,145.791
ND$1,207.301
NE$1,127.221
NH$1,264.351
NJ$1,330.48–$1,403.312
NM$1,147.171
NV$1,221.881
NY$1,165.30–$1,458.335
OH$1,136.931
OK$1,109.031
OR$1,212.61–$1,334.832
PA$1,140.07–$1,277.422
PR$1,236.981
RI$1,259.811
SC$1,143.231
SD$1,205.081
TN$1,117.871
TX$1,131.34–$1,282.518
UT$1,161.211
VA$1,199.34–$1,421.752
VI$1,236.981
VT$1,200.191
WA$1,275.23–$1,462.092
WI$1,161.001
WV$1,105.101
WY$1,217.901

See 36251 in every payment locality

How the 36251 rate is calculated

Each of 36251’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 · 36251

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work4.97

4.97 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense30.79

30.79 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.95

0.95 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

36.7100

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$1,226.15

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

The exact King County, WA inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

4,459

Code
36251
Physician work
4.97
Practice expense
30.79
Malpractice
0.95

GPCI2026.csv

108

Locality
King County, WA
Physician work
1.050
Practice expense
1.227
Malpractice
0.817
Office calculation for 36251 in King County, WA
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work4.97× 1.0505.2185
Practice expense30.79× 1.22737.7793
Malpractice0.95× 0.8170.7761
Total RVUs43.7740
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, King County, WA$1462.09

Office: (4.97 × 1.05 + 30.79 × 1.227 + 0.95 × 0.817) × $33.4009 = $1462.09

Facility: (4.97 × 1.05 + 0.8 × 1.227 + 0.95 × 0.817) × $33.4009 = $233.01

Open 36251 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 36251

The CMS indicators that decide how 36251 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 36251

Renal angiography, unilateral, main artery

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

36251 without 51 · national office

$1,226.15

Renal angiography, unilateral, main artery

36251-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$613.08

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 36251

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

Codes related to 36251
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, King County, WA
Same family
36252Renal angiography, bilateral, first-order arteriesBilateral renal angiography involving the main and any accessory renal arteries.$1,589.22
36253Renal angiography, second-order or higher, unilateralUnilateral renal angiography involving segmental or subsegmental branch catheterization.$2,274.09
36254Renal catheterization, second-order or more, bilateralBilateral renal angiography involving segmental or subsegmental branch catheterization.$2,274.19

How 36251 has changed in King County, WA

36251 · Office / nonfacility

$1462.09

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $59.22 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $1402.87 to $1462.09 (4.2%).

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

    $1402.87changed to$1462.09

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 5.10 changed to 4.97
    • Practice expense RVU 30.56 changed to 30.79
    • Malpractice RVU 0.90 changed to 0.95
    • Work GPCI 1.043 changed to 1.050
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.220 changed to 1.227
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.853 changed to 0.817

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $1495.02changed to$1402.87

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 31.81 changed to 30.56
    • Malpractice RVU 0.92 changed to 0.90

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $1470.62changed to$1495.02

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $1544.77changed to$1470.62

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 32.77 changed to 31.81
    • Malpractice RVU 0.90 changed to 0.92
    • Work GPCI 1.039 changed to 1.043
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.207 changed to 1.220
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.815 changed to 0.853

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $1606.66changed to$1544.77

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 33.88 changed to 32.77
    • Malpractice RVU 0.89 changed to 0.90
    • Work GPCI 1.036 changed to 1.039
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.194 changed to 1.207
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.776 changed to 0.815

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $1693.33changed to$1606.66

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 35.66 changed to 33.88
    • Malpractice RVU 0.86 changed to 0.89

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $1643.35changed to$1693.33

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 33.79 changed to 35.66
    • Malpractice RVU 0.87 changed to 0.86
    • Work GPCI 1.031 changed to 1.036
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.170 changed to 1.194
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.854 changed to 0.776

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $1591.05changed to$1643.35

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 33.23 changed to 33.79
    • Malpractice RVU 0.89 changed to 0.87
    • Work GPCI 1.027 changed to 1.031
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.146 changed to 1.170
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.931 changed to 0.854

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $1589.87changed to$1591.05

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 33.26 changed to 33.23
    • Malpractice RVU 0.87 changed to 0.89

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $1569.73changed to$1589.87

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 32.86 changed to 33.26
    • Malpractice RVU 0.96 changed to 0.87
    • Work GPCI 1.026 changed to 1.027
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.151 changed to 1.146
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.713 changed to 0.931

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $1629.61changed to$1569.73

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Work RVU 5.35 changed to 5.10
    • Practice expense RVU 34.20 changed to 32.86
    • Malpractice RVU 1.07 changed to 0.96
    • Work GPCI 1.025 changed to 1.026
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.155 changed to 1.151
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.495 changed to 0.713

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $1630.04changed to$1629.61

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 34.06 changed to 34.20
    • Malpractice RVU 1.09 changed to 1.07

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $1621.93changed to$1630.04

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $1611.30changed to$1621.93

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 33.77 changed to 34.06
    • Malpractice RVU 0.96 changed to 1.09
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.150 changed to 1.155
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.688 changed to 0.495

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $1709.22changed to$1611.30

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 38.35 changed to 33.77
    • Malpractice RVU 1.00 changed to 0.96
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.144 changed to 1.150
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.881 changed to 0.688

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $1709.22

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$1,462.09$233.01RVU26D
2026-07-01$1,462.09$233.01RVU26C
2026-04-01$1,462.09$233.01RVU26B
2026-01-01$1,462.09$233.01RVU26A
2025-10-01$1,402.87$254.51RVU25D
2025-07-01$1,402.87$254.51RVU25C
2025-04-01$1,402.87$254.51RVU25B
2025-01-01$1,402.87$254.51RVU25A
2024-10-01$1,495.02$261.67RVU24D
2024-07-01$1,495.02$261.67RVU24C
2024-04-01$1,495.02$261.67RVU24B
2024-03-09$1,495.02$261.67RVU24AR
2024-01-01$1,470.62$257.40RVU24A
2023-10-01$1,544.77$264.96RVU23D
2023-07-01$1,544.77$264.96RVU23C
2023-04-01$1,544.77$264.96RVU23B
2023-01-01$1,544.77$264.96RVU23A
2022-10-01$1,606.66$268.31RVU22D
2022-07-01$1,606.66$268.31RVU22C
2022-04-01$1,606.66$268.31RVU22B
2022-01-01$1,606.66$268.31RVU22A
2021-10-01$1,693.33$270.56RVU21D
2021-07-01$1,693.33$270.56RVU21C
2021-04-01$1,693.33$270.56RVU21B
2021-01-01$1,693.33$270.56RVU21A
2020-10-01$1,643.35$281.60RVU20D
2020-07-01$1,643.35$281.60RVU20C
2020-04-01$1,643.35$281.60RVU20B
2020-01-01$1,643.35$281.60RVU20A
2019-10-01$1,591.05$283.05RVU19D
2019-07-01$1,591.05$283.05RVU19C
2019-04-01$1,591.05$283.05RVU19B
2019-01-01$1,591.05$283.05RVU19A
2018-10-01$1,589.87$283.72RVU18D
2018-07-01$1,589.87$283.72RVU18C
2018-04-01$1,589.87$283.72RVU18B
2018-01-01$1,589.87$283.72RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$1,569.73$281.75RVU17D
2017-07-01$1,569.73$281.75RVU17C
2017-04-01$1,569.73$281.75RVU17B
2017-01-01$1,569.73$281.75RVU17A
2016-10-01$1,629.61$289.74RVU16D
2016-07-01$1,629.61$289.74RVU16C
2016-04-01$1,629.61$289.74RVU16B
2016-01-01$1,629.61$289.74RVU16A
2015-10-01$1,630.04$291.14RVU15D
2015-07-01$1,630.04$291.14RVU15C
2015-04-01$1,621.93$289.70RVU15B
2015-01-01$1,621.93$289.70RVU15A
2014-10-01$1,611.30$295.90RVU14D
2014-07-01$1,611.30$295.90RVU14C
2014-04-01$1,611.30$295.90RVU14B
2014-01-01$1,611.30$295.90RVU14A
2013-10-01$1,709.22$292.45RVU13D
2013-07-01$1,709.22$292.45RVU13C
2013-04-01$1,709.22$292.45RVU13B
2013-01-01$1,709.22$292.45RVU13AR

Price 36251 for an earlier date of service

Where the King County, WA rate applies

King County, WA is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 63 cities and communities in Washington. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Seattle
  • Algona
  • Ames Lake
  • 36251 in Auburn · multiple payment areas
  • Baring
  • Beaux Arts Village
  • Bellevue
  • Black Diamond

Browse all communities in Washington

36251 billing questions

When should I report this instead of 36252?

Report this code for renal angiography on one side. Use 36252 when the service is bilateral; do not use modifier 50 to make this code bilateral.

Does this code include the angiographic imaging?

Yes. The renal angiographic imaging, intraprocedural roadmapping, and imaging guidance needed to complete the service are included.

How does 36251 differ from 36253?

This code covers the main renal artery and any accessory renal arteries on one side. Use 36253 when catheterization extends into segmental or subsegmental renal artery branches.

What documentation supports reporting this service?

Document the side, the renal arteries selectively catheterized, and the angiographic imaging performed. The report should make clear whether work was limited to the main and accessory arteries or extended into branch vessels.

How does the multiple-procedure rule affect payment?

When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the other procedures are paid at 50%. Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included in this code’s 0-day global period.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted for this service. CMS does not permit co-surgeons or team surgery.

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 36251PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 4,459 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for King County, WAGPCI2026.csv, line 108 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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