CPT code 36475: Venous ablation, radiofrequency, first vein2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Louisiana
Percutaneous radiofrequency treatment closes the first incompetent vein in an extremity, commonly for symptomatic superficial venous reflux such as great saphenous vein insufficiency.
Medicare pays $957.34–$1,011.50 for 36475 in the office in Louisiana, from Rest of Louisiana to New Orleans, LA. 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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On this page 9 sections
What 36475 covers
This service uses a percutaneously placed catheter to deliver radiofrequency energy and close an incompetent superficial vein in an extremity. Vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists, and other qualified clinicians commonly perform it in an office-based vascular practice or an outpatient facility for symptomatic venous reflux, often involving the great or small saphenous vein. Imaging guidance and treatment monitoring are included in the service.
Report 36475 for the first vein treated with radiofrequency in the extremity. For an additional vein treated in the same extremity, report 36476 when its requirements are met. Documentation should identify the treated vein, support its incompetence or reflux, and describe the radiofrequency treatment. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. With multiple procedures in one session, Medicare pays the highest-valued procedure in full and others at 50%. Bilateral treatment with modifier 50 is paid 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 36475 pays more and less in Louisiana
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | $1,011.50 | $249.63 |
| Rest of Louisiana | $957.34 | $240.81 |
How the 36475 rate is calculated
Each of 36475’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 · 36475
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work5.17
5.17 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense25.30
25.30 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.15
1.15 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
31.6200
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,056.14
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 36475
The CMS indicators that decide how 36475 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 36475
Venous ablation, radiofrequency, first vein
| 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
36475 without 50 · national office
$1,056.14
Venous ablation, radiofrequency, first vein
36475-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,584.21
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).
36475 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 36476Vein ablationAdditional vein, radiofrequency
- 36475 applies to the first radiofrequency-treated vein in the extremity; 36476 applies to an additional vein in that same extremity.
- 36478Laser vein ablationFirst vein treated
- Both treat the first incompetent vein, but 36478 uses laser energy and 36475 uses radiofrequency.
- 36473Vein ablationMechanochemical, first vein
- Both address the first incompetent vein, but 36473 uses mechanochemical treatment rather than radiofrequency.
- 36482Vein ablationChemical adhesive, first vein
- 36482 treats the first incompetent vein with chemical adhesive; 36475 uses radiofrequency catheter ablation.
36475 billing questions
When should 36475 be used instead of 36476?
Use 36475 for the first vein treated with radiofrequency in the extremity. Use 36476 for an additional vein treated in that same extremity when its requirements are met.
Is imaging guidance separately reported with 36475?
Imaging guidance and monitoring are included in 36475. Do not separately report those elements as though they were outside the ablation service.
What documentation supports reporting 36475?
Document the incompetent vein and evidence of reflux, the extremity and vein treated, and the radiofrequency catheter treatment. The record should distinguish the first treated vein from any additional vein.
How is bilateral treatment reported?
For bilateral treatment, report modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
How does the 0-day global period affect same-day care?
Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included in the procedure's 0-day global period.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be billed for this procedure?
Assistant-at-surgery services are not paid for 36475. 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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