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CPT code 36555: Central line insertion, under age 52026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Colorado

Reports placement of a non-tunneled, centrally inserted venous catheter in a child younger than five, such as for intensive-care infusions or monitoring.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality21 Medicare services in 2024

In Colorado, Medicare pays $222.31 for 36555 in the office and $79.45 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$222.31Office (non-facility)
$79.45Hospital or facility
+4.2%vs the national office rate ($213.43)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 36555 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 36555 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Colorado
  2. What 36555 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 36555 covers

This service covers placement of a non-tunneled central venous catheter in a child younger than five. A physician or other qualified clinician may perform it in an operating room, intensive care unit, emergency department, or another setting requiring central access. Typical access routes include the internal jugular, subclavian, or femoral vein. The catheter provides central venous access for needs such as vasoactive medication, prolonged infusion, or hemodynamic monitoring; it is not a tunneled line, implanted port, or peripherally inserted catheter.

Select this code based on the patient’s age on the service date and the centrally inserted, non-tunneled catheter type. Documentation should identify the indication, catheter and access route, insertion, and the patient’s age. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay for an assistant-at-surgery service for this code, and co-surgeon and team-surgery reporting is 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 Colorado compares for 36555

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 36555 runs from $190.35 in Arkansas to $282.08 in San Benito County, CA. Colorado pays $222.31. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

36555 in Colorado vs other payment areas
  1. Colorado · this page$222.31
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$240.80+$18.49
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$243.29+$20.98
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$227.56+$5.25
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$221.52−$0.79
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$244.12+$21.81
  7. Alaska · Alaska$251.87+$29.56

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

Every other payment area

36555 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$192.95$75.46
ArkansasArkansas$190.35$75.01
ArizonaArizona$208.16$78.05
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$226.48$79.32
Chico, CACalifornia$225.97$78.81
El Centro, CACalifornia$225.99$78.83
Fresno, CACalifornia$225.97$78.81
Hanford, CACalifornia$225.97$78.81

36555 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.

$190.35

$254.02

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

View every state and territory as a table
36555 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$251.871
AL$192.951
AR$190.351
AZ$208.161
CA$225.97–$282.0829
CO$222.311
CT$227.001
DC$243.291
DE$211.461
FL$209.73–$227.563
GA$198.77–$217.022
GU$231.091
HI$231.091
IA$197.861
ID$198.991
IL$203.80–$221.924
IN$200.081
KS$196.831
KY$196.851
LA$196.50–$205.592
MA$221.05–$243.612
MD$215.36–$243.293
ME$199.79–$210.152
MI$201.48–$212.012
MN$213.881
MO$193.24–$206.473
MS$191.841
MT$213.421
NC$201.771
ND$210.261
NE$198.921
NH$218.721
NJ$229.83–$241.002
NM$202.451
NV$212.681
NY$204.58–$249.495
OH$200.831
OK$196.691
OR$211.26–$229.202
PA$201.22–$221.552
PR$214.951
RI$218.841
SC$201.591
SD$209.881
TN$197.741
TX$199.98–$221.388
UT$204.171
VA$209.39–$243.292
VI$214.951
VT$209.341
WA$220.67–$248.582
WI$203.631
WV$196.701
WY$212.041

See 36555 in every payment locality

How the 36555 rate is calculated

Each of 36555’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 · 36555

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.88

1.88 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense4.35

4.35 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.16

0.16 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

6.3900

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$213.43

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

The exact Colorado inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

4,504

Code
36555
Physician work
1.88
Practice expense
4.35
Malpractice
0.16

GPCI2026.csv

37

Locality
Colorado
Physician work
1.012
Practice expense
1.064
Malpractice
0.781
Office calculation for 36555 in Colorado
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.88× 1.0121.9026
Practice expense4.35× 1.0644.6284
Malpractice0.16× 0.7810.1250
Total RVUs6.6559
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Colorado$222.31

Office: (1.88 × 1.012 + 4.35 × 1.064 + 0.16 × 0.781) × $33.4009 = $222.31

Facility: (1.88 × 1.012 + 0.33 × 1.064 + 0.16 × 0.781) × $33.4009 = $79.45

Open 36555 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 36555

The CMS indicators that decide how 36555 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 36555

Central line insertion, under age 5

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
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.

Codes related to 36555

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

Codes related to 36555
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Colorado
Same family
36556Central line insertion, age 5 years or olderSame non-tunneled central catheter service for patients age five and older.$247.89
Used instead
36557Tunneled catheter, under age five, no portTunneled central catheter insertion for a patient younger than five.$1,322.62
36558Tunneled catheter, age 5 years or olderTunneled central catheter insertion for a patient age five or older.$824.17
36568PICC insertion, under 5, no imagingPICC insertion for a patient younger than five, rather than centrally inserted access.No office rate

How 36555 has changed in Colorado

36555 · Office / nonfacility

$222.31

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $38.61 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $183.70 to $222.31 (21.0%).

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

    $183.70changed to$222.31

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.93 changed to 1.88
    • Practice expense RVU 3.42 changed to 4.35
    • Work GPCI 1.008 changed to 1.012
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.053 changed to 1.064
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.827 changed to 0.781

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $192.20changed to$183.70

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 3.51 changed to 3.42

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $189.06changed to$192.20

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $197.70changed to$189.06

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 3.58 changed to 3.51
    • Malpractice RVU 0.17 changed to 0.16
    • Work GPCI 1.005 changed to 1.008
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.050 changed to 1.053
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.797 changed to 0.827

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $203.26changed to$197.70

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 3.64 changed to 3.58
    • Work GPCI 1.001 changed to 1.005
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.047 changed to 1.050
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.767 changed to 0.797

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $206.60changed to$203.26

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 3.70 changed to 3.64
    • Malpractice RVU 0.15 changed to 0.17

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $196.46changed to$206.60

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 3.27 changed to 3.70
    • Work GPCI 1.000 changed to 1.001
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.033 changed to 1.047
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.905 changed to 0.767

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $194.42changed to$196.46

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 3.25 changed to 3.27
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.018 changed to 1.033
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.042 changed to 0.905

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $192.01changed to$194.42

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 3.19 changed to 3.25

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $211.41changed to$192.01

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Work RVU 2.43 changed to 1.93
    • Practice expense RVU 3.21 changed to 3.19
    • Malpractice RVU 0.19 changed to 0.15
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.015 changed to 1.018
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.066 changed to 1.042

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $264.90changed to$211.41

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Work RVU 2.68 changed to 2.43
    • Practice expense RVU 4.43 changed to 3.21
    • Malpractice RVU 0.22 changed to 0.19
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.011 changed to 1.015
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.090 changed to 1.066

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $262.22changed to$264.90

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 4.33 changed to 4.43

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $260.92changed to$262.22

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $261.18changed to$260.92

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 4.37 changed to 4.33
    • Malpractice RVU 0.21 changed to 0.22
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.008 changed to 1.011
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.981 changed to 1.090

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $264.75changed to$261.18

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 4.89 changed to 4.37
    • Malpractice RVU 0.22 changed to 0.21
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.004 changed to 1.008
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.872 changed to 0.981

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $264.75

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$222.31$79.45RVU26D
2026-07-01$222.31$79.45RVU26C
2026-04-01$222.31$79.45RVU26B
2026-01-01$222.31$79.45RVU26A
2025-10-01$183.70$80.83RVU25D
2025-07-01$183.70$80.83RVU25C
2025-04-01$183.70$80.83RVU25B
2025-01-01$183.70$80.83RVU25A
2024-10-01$192.20$82.83RVU24D
2024-07-01$192.20$82.83RVU24C
2024-04-01$192.20$82.83RVU24B
2024-03-09$192.20$82.83RVU24AR
2024-01-01$189.06$81.48RVU24A
2023-10-01$197.70$84.20RVU23D
2023-07-01$197.70$84.20RVU23C
2023-04-01$197.70$84.20RVU23B
2023-01-01$197.70$84.20RVU23A
2022-10-01$203.26$85.14RVU22D
2022-07-01$203.26$85.14RVU22C
2022-04-01$203.26$85.14RVU22B
2022-01-01$203.26$85.14RVU22A
2021-10-01$206.60$84.94RVU21D
2021-07-01$206.60$84.94RVU21C
2021-04-01$206.60$84.94RVU21B
2021-01-01$206.60$84.94RVU21A
2020-10-01$196.46$87.97RVU20D
2020-07-01$196.46$87.97RVU20C
2020-04-01$196.46$87.97RVU20B
2020-01-01$196.46$87.97RVU20A
2019-10-01$194.42$89.13RVU19D
2019-07-01$194.42$89.13RVU19C
2019-04-01$194.42$89.13RVU19B
2019-01-01$194.42$89.13RVU19A
2018-10-01$192.01$90.13RVU18D
2018-07-01$192.01$90.13RVU18C
2018-04-01$192.01$90.13RVU18B
2018-01-01$192.01$90.13RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$211.41$110.87RVU17D
2017-07-01$211.41$110.87RVU17C
2017-04-01$211.41$110.87RVU17B
2017-01-01$211.41$110.87RVU17A
2016-10-01$264.90$123.00RVU16D
2016-07-01$264.90$123.00RVU16C
2016-04-01$264.90$123.00RVU16B
2016-01-01$264.90$123.00RVU16A
2015-10-01$262.22$122.36RVU15D
2015-07-01$262.22$122.36RVU15C
2015-04-01$260.92$121.75RVU15B
2015-01-01$260.92$121.75RVU15A
2014-10-01$261.18$121.80RVU14D
2014-07-01$261.18$121.80RVU14C
2014-04-01$261.18$121.80RVU14B
2014-01-01$261.18$121.80RVU14A
2013-10-01$264.75$116.84RVU13D
2013-07-01$264.75$116.84RVU13C
2013-04-01$264.75$116.84RVU13B
2013-01-01$264.75$116.84RVU13AR

Price 36555 for an earlier date of service

Where the Colorado rate applies

Colorado is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 485 cities and communities in Colorado. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Acres Green
  • Aetna Estates
  • Aguilar
  • Air Force Academy
  • Akron
  • Alamosa
  • Alamosa East
  • Allenspark

Browse all communities in Colorado

36555 billing questions

When should 36555 be used instead of 36556?

Use 36555 for a non-tunneled, centrally inserted central venous catheter in a patient younger than five. Code 36556 is the corresponding age-five-and-older code.

How is this different from a tunneled catheter insertion?

The catheter reported with 36555 is not tunneled beneath the skin. A tunneled central catheter in a child younger than five is reported with 36557.

Is a PICC reported with 36555?

No. A peripherally inserted central catheter is classified separately; 36568 is the PICC insertion code for a patient younger than five.

What documentation supports reporting 36555?

Document the patient’s age, the need for central venous access, the non-tunneled catheter, the insertion, and the access route.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported for this service?

Medicare does not pay an assistant-at-surgery service for 36555. Co-surgeon and team-surgery reporting 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

Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
RVUs for 36555PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 4,504 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for ColoradoGPCI2026.csv, line 37 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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