CPT code 36471: Sclerotherapy, multiple incompetent veins2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Massachusetts
Reports sclerosant treatment of multiple incompetent veins in the same leg, typically for symptomatic superficial venous disease and varicosities.
Medicare pays $211.67–$234.46 for 36471 in the office in Massachusetts, from Rest of Massachusetts to Metropolitan Boston, MA. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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What 36471 covers
This service treats multiple incompetent superficial veins in one leg by injecting a sclerosing agent to close the targeted veins. It is commonly performed by a vascular surgeon, interventional radiologist, or other qualified clinician in an office or outpatient setting for patients with varicose veins or related symptoms. The code distinguishes treatment of multiple veins from treatment of a single incompetent vein and from injection treatment directed at spider veins.
Report the service when documentation identifies the treated leg, the multiple incompetent veins addressed, and the injection treatment performed. This is a minor procedure with a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. For bilateral treatment reported with modifier 50, CMS pays at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery services are not paid; 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.
Where 36471 pays more and less in Massachusetts
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Boston, MA | $234.46 | $69.36 |
| Rest of Massachusetts | $211.67 | $66.06 |
How the 36471 rate is calculated
Each of 36471’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 · 36471
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.46
1.46 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense4.39
4.39 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.29
0.29 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
6.1400
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$205.08
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 36471
The CMS indicators that decide how 36471 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 36471
Sclerotherapy, multiple incompetent veins
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 1 | Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
36471 without 50 · national office
$205.08
Sclerotherapy, multiple incompetent veins
36471-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$307.62
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).
36471 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 36470Vein sclerotherapyOne incompetent vein
- 36470 is for treatment of one incompetent vein. Use 36471 when multiple incompetent veins in the same leg are treated.
- 36465Foam sclerotherapyOne incompetent truncal vein
- 36465 describes non-compounded foam sclerosant treatment of one vein. 36471 represents injection treatment of multiple incompetent veins using a different documented technique.
- 36466Foam sclerotherapyMultiple incompetent veins
- 36466 also addresses multiple veins but specifies non-compounded foam sclerosant. Select based on the sclerosant technique documented.
- 36468SclerotherapySpider veins
- 36468 is for injection treatment of spider veins. 36471 is for multiple incompetent veins in the same leg.
36471 billing questions
When should 36471 be chosen over 36470?
Use 36471 when multiple incompetent veins in the same leg are treated. Use 36470 when treatment is limited to one incompetent vein.
How does 36471 differ from foam sclerotherapy codes 36465 and 36466?
Those codes describe treatment using non-compounded foam sclerosant. Choose between them and 36471 based on the documented technique and number of veins treated.
Can same-day preoperative or postoperative care be billed separately?
Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included in the 0-day global period for this procedure.
How is bilateral treatment reported?
When both legs are treated and the service is reported with modifier 50, CMS pays at 150%.
What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be billed for this procedure?
Assistant-at-surgery services are not paid for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
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
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