CPT code 36252: Renal angiography, bilateral, first-order arteries2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $1,343.38 for 36252 nationally in the office and $309.63 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $1,167.90–$1,819.52.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 36252 covers

This code describes diagnostic angiography requiring selective catheterization of the first-order renal arteries on both sides. It is commonly performed in an angiography suite or hospital procedure room by an interventional radiologist, vascular surgeon, or other physician performing renal vascular imaging to assess suspected stenosis or other renal arterial disease. The service includes the associated renal angiographic imaging and interpretation, as well as flush aortography when performed.

Choose this code when the documented work meets the bilateral, first-order renal artery level; catheterization of more distal or additional renal branches may call for a different code in the family. The report should support bilateral selective catheter positions and the angiographic study performed. The code packages the related catheter placement and imaging interpretation, so do not separately report those same components. It has a 0-day global period, with same-day preoperative and postoperative care included. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard reduction. The code is already priced bilaterally, so modifier 50 does not increase payment. 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.

Where 36252 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

36252 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

How the 36252 rate is calculated

Each of 36252’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 36252

The CMS indicators that decide how 36252 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 51

36252 compared with similar codes

How to choose

36251Renal angiographyUnilateral, main artery

Use 36251 for the corresponding first-order renal angiographic service on one side; 36252 is the bilateral code.

36253Renal angiographySecond-order or higher, unilateral

36253 describes unilateral catheterization at the second-order level or beyond, rather than bilateral first-order work.

36254Renal catheterizationSecond-order or more, bilateral

36254 applies to bilateral second-order-or-beyond renal catheterization; 36252 is for the first-order level.

36245Selective catheterizationFirst-order abdominal or leg branch

36245 describes first-order abdominal or lower-extremity arterial catheter placement, not the bilateral renal angiographic service represented by 36252.

Codes related to 36252

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

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates