FeeBase
Log inGet started
Menu

CPT code 36557: Tunneled catheter, under age five, no port2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in North Carolina

Report this code for tunneled central venous catheter placement in a child younger than five when the catheter has no subcutaneous port or pump.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality20 Medicare services in 2024

In North Carolina, Medicare pays $1,175.76 for 36557 in the office and $285.74 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$1,175.76Office (non-facility)
$285.74Hospital or facility
−6.8%vs the national office rate ($1,262.22)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 36557 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 36557 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in North Carolina
  2. What 36557 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 36557 covers

This service places a central venous catheter through a subcutaneous tunnel, with the catheter exiting the skin and no implanted port or pump. It is commonly used for young children needing durable access for treatments such as chemotherapy, parenteral nutrition, or prolonged intravenous therapy. Surgeons and other qualified proceduralists may perform the placement in a hospital or surgical setting.

Select the code based on the patient’s age on the date of the procedure and whether the device is tunneled and lacks a port or pump. Documentation should identify the patient’s age, catheter type, tunneled route, and placement details. CMS assigns a 10-day global period, so related postoperative visits during that period are included. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures at 50%. Modifier 50 applies to a bilateral procedure, paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; 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 North Carolina compares for 36557

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 36557 runs from $1,092.00 in Arkansas to $1,728.49 in San Benito County, CA. North Carolina pays $1,175.76. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

36557 in North Carolina vs other payment areas
  1. North Carolina · this page$1,175.76
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$1,448.39+$272.63
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$1,464.36+$288.60
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$1,371.06+$195.30
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$1,324.00+$148.24
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$1,469.21+$293.45
  7. Alaska · Alaska$1,391.59+$215.83

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

Every other payment area

36557 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$1,111.15$276.46
ArkansasArkansas$1,092.00$272.58
ArizonaArizona$1,223.20$298.84
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$1,350.30$304.80
Chico, CACalifornia$1,346.86$301.36
El Centro, CACalifornia$1,347.08$301.57
Fresno, CACalifornia$1,346.86$301.36
Hanford, CACalifornia$1,346.86$301.36

36557 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.

$1,092.00

$1,537.68

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

View every state and territory as a table
36557 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$1,391.591
AL$1,111.151
AR$1,092.001
AZ$1,223.201
CA$1,346.86–$1,728.4929
CO$1,322.621
CT$1,356.021
DC$1,464.361
DE$1,245.981
FL$1,237.08–$1,371.063
GA$1,155.93–$1,288.252
GU$1,389.461
HI$1,389.461
IA$1,146.331
ID$1,154.881
IL$1,194.06–$1,324.964
IN$1,162.851
KS$1,139.241
KY$1,140.911
LA$1,138.51–$1,205.492
MA$1,312.28–$1,469.722
MD$1,273.03–$1,464.363
ME$1,161.25–$1,236.902
MI$1,175.50–$1,254.442
MN$1,262.871
MO$1,114.81–$1,211.423
MS$1,103.701
MT$1,262.131
NC$1,175.761
ND$1,236.821
NE$1,154.001
NH$1,300.341
NJ$1,370.27–$1,444.792
NM$1,182.821
NV$1,256.141
NY$1,196.52–$1,509.425
OH$1,170.331
OK$1,139.251
OR$1,245.28–$1,371.502
PA$1,172.94–$1,316.812
PR$1,273.241
RI$1,295.611
SC$1,175.241
SD$1,233.831
TN$1,145.951
TX$1,163.77–$1,319.158
UT$1,194.251
VA$1,231.63–$1,464.362
VI$1,273.241
VT$1,230.501
WA$1,310.26–$1,503.022
WI$1,188.111
WV$1,141.771
WY$1,251.101

See 36557 in every payment locality

How the 36557 rate is calculated

Each of 36557’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 · 36557

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work4.77

4.77 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense31.74

31.74 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice1.28

1.28 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

37.7900

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$1,262.22

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

The exact North Carolina inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

4,506

Code
36557
Physician work
4.77
Practice expense
31.74
Malpractice
1.28

GPCI2026.csv

83

Locality
North Carolina
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.933
Malpractice
0.639
Office calculation for 36557 in North Carolina
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work4.77× 1.0004.7700
Practice expense31.74× 0.93329.6134
Malpractice1.28× 0.6390.8179
Total RVUs35.2013
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, North Carolina$1175.76

Office: (4.77 × 1 + 31.74 × 0.933 + 1.28 × 0.639) × $33.4009 = $1175.76

Facility: (4.77 × 1 + 3.18 × 0.933 + 1.28 × 0.639) × $33.4009 = $285.74

Open 36557 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 36557

36557 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 36557

Tunneled catheter, under age five, no port

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period010Minor procedure: the day of the procedure plus 10 days after are included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.10/0.80/0.10Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 36557

Tunneled catheter, under age five, no port

10-day global period ends

Oct 11, 2026

Covers Oct 1, 2026 through Oct 11, 2026 (11 days).

Visit on Oct 31, 2026

After the global period ends: visits and procedures are billed normally.

SurgeryVisit
Sep 28, 2026Oct 14, 2026

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

36557 without 50 · national office

$1,262.22

Tunneled catheter, under age five, no port

36557-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$1,893.33

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).

When to use modifier 50

Codes related to 36557

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

Codes related to 36557
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, North Carolina
Same family
36558Tunneled catheter, age 5 years or olderSame tunneled catheter without port or pump, for patients age five or older.$738.57
Used instead
36560Central venous port, child younger than fiveTunneled central access with a subcutaneous port for patients younger than five.$1,251.14
36555Central line insertion, under age 5Non-tunneled central catheter placement for patients younger than five.$201.77
36556Central line insertion, age 5 years or olderNon-tunneled central catheter placement for patients age five or older.$223.45

How 36557 has changed in North Carolina

36557 · Office / nonfacility

$1175.76

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $183.25 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $992.51 to $1175.76 (18.5%).

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

    $992.51changed to$1175.76

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 4.89 changed to 4.77
    • Practice expense RVU 26.95 changed to 31.74
    • Malpractice RVU 1.26 changed to 1.28
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.926 changed to 0.933
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.665 changed to 0.639

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $1053.52changed to$992.51

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 28.00 changed to 26.95
    • Malpractice RVU 1.25 changed to 1.26

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $1036.33changed to$1053.52

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $1104.61changed to$1036.33

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 28.92 changed to 28.00
    • Malpractice RVU 1.21 changed to 1.25
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.927 changed to 0.926
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.742 changed to 0.665

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $1174.23changed to$1104.61

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 30.20 changed to 28.92
    • Malpractice RVU 1.24 changed to 1.21
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.928 changed to 0.927
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.819 changed to 0.742

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $1163.39changed to$1174.23

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 29.60 changed to 30.20
    • Malpractice RVU 1.20 changed to 1.24

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $1057.47changed to$1163.39

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 25.28 changed to 29.60
    • Malpractice RVU 1.19 changed to 1.20
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.930 changed to 0.928
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.757 changed to 0.819

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $978.08changed to$1057.47

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 23.01 changed to 25.28
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.931 changed to 0.930
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.695 changed to 0.757

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. July 1, 2019

    RVU19C

    $977.33changed to$978.08

    • Malpractice RVU 1.16 changed to 1.19

    Held through RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $894.64changed to$977.33

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 20.56 changed to 23.01
    • Malpractice RVU 1.18 changed to 1.16

    Held through RVU19B.

  11. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $876.72changed to$894.64

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 20.13 changed to 20.56
    • Malpractice RVU 1.09 changed to 1.18
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.732 changed to 0.695

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  12. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $963.18changed to$876.72

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Work RVU 5.14 changed to 4.89
    • Practice expense RVU 22.40 changed to 20.13
    • Malpractice RVU 1.21 changed to 1.09
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.930 changed to 0.931
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.768 changed to 0.732

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  13. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $979.57changed to$963.18

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 22.77 changed to 22.40
    • Malpractice RVU 1.23 changed to 1.21

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  14. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $974.70changed to$979.57

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  15. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $958.52changed to$974.70

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 22.45 changed to 22.77
    • Malpractice RVU 1.04 changed to 1.23
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.929 changed to 0.930
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.732 changed to 0.768

    Held through RVU15B.

  16. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $751.33changed to$958.52

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 17.46 changed to 22.45
    • Malpractice RVU 1.09 changed to 1.04
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.927 changed to 0.929
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.695 changed to 0.732

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  17. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $751.33

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$1,175.76$285.74RVU26D
2026-07-01$1,175.76$285.74RVU26C
2026-04-01$1,175.76$285.74RVU26B
2026-01-01$1,175.76$285.74RVU26A
2025-10-01$992.51$291.01RVU25D
2025-07-01$992.51$291.01RVU25C
2025-04-01$992.51$291.01RVU25B
2025-01-01$992.51$291.01RVU25A
2024-10-01$1,053.52$297.10RVU24D
2024-07-01$1,053.52$297.10RVU24C
2024-04-01$1,053.52$297.10RVU24B
2024-03-09$1,053.52$297.10RVU24AR
2024-01-01$1,036.33$292.25RVU24A
2023-10-01$1,104.61$303.57RVU23D
2023-07-01$1,104.61$303.57RVU23C
2023-04-01$1,104.61$303.57RVU23B
2023-01-01$1,104.61$303.57RVU23A
2022-10-01$1,174.23$313.56RVU22D
2022-07-01$1,174.23$313.56RVU22C
2022-04-01$1,174.23$313.56RVU22B
2022-01-01$1,174.23$313.56RVU22A
2021-10-01$1,163.39$313.07RVU21D
2021-07-01$1,163.39$313.07RVU21C
2021-04-01$1,163.39$313.07RVU21B
2021-01-01$1,163.39$313.07RVU21A
2020-10-01$1,057.47$315.38RVU20D
2020-07-01$1,057.47$315.38RVU20C
2020-04-01$1,057.47$315.38RVU20B
2020-01-01$1,057.47$315.38RVU20A
2019-10-01$978.08$311.06RVU19D
2019-07-01$978.08$311.06RVU19C
2019-04-01$977.33$310.30RVU19B
2019-01-01$977.33$310.30RVU19A
2018-10-01$894.64$309.79RVU18D
2018-07-01$894.64$309.79RVU18C
2018-04-01$894.64$309.79RVU18B
2018-01-01$894.64$309.79RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$876.72$307.71RVU17D
2017-07-01$876.72$307.71RVU17C
2017-04-01$876.72$307.71RVU17B
2017-01-01$876.72$307.71RVU17A
2016-10-01$963.18$323.86RVU16D
2016-07-01$963.18$323.86RVU16C
2016-04-01$963.18$323.86RVU16B
2016-01-01$963.18$323.86RVU16A
2015-10-01$979.57$325.58RVU15D
2015-07-01$979.57$325.58RVU15C
2015-04-01$974.70$323.96RVU15B
2015-01-01$974.70$323.96RVU15A
2014-10-01$958.52$318.56RVU14D
2014-07-01$958.52$318.56RVU14C
2014-04-01$958.52$318.56RVU14B
2014-01-01$958.52$318.56RVU14A
2013-10-01$751.33$292.12RVU13D
2013-07-01$751.33$292.12RVU13C
2013-04-01$751.33$292.12RVU13B
2013-01-01$751.33$292.12RVU13AR

Price 36557 for an earlier date of service

Where the North Carolina rate applies

North Carolina is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 785 cities and communities in North Carolina. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Aberdeen
  • Advance
  • Ahoskie
  • Alamance
  • Albemarle
  • Alexis
  • Alliance
  • Altamahaw

Browse all communities in North Carolina

36557 billing questions

How does this code differ from 36558?

Both describe tunneled central venous catheter placement without a port or pump. Use 36557 for a patient younger than five and 36558 for a patient age five or older.

Can this code be used for an implanted port?

No. It describes a tunneled catheter without a subcutaneous port or pump; code selection changes when the implanted device includes a port.

What documentation supports reporting 36557?

Document the patient’s age on the procedure date, the tunneled catheter placement, and that the device has no subcutaneous port or pump.

Are related postoperative visits separately paid during the global period?

Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in the procedure payment.

When is an assistant at surgery payable?

CMS allows assistant-at-surgery payment only when the record documents medical necessity. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted for this code.

How are other procedures in the same session paid?

The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures in that session are paid at 50%. For a bilateral procedure reported with modifier 50, CMS pays at 150%.

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 36557PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 4,506 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for North CarolinaGPCI2026.csv, line 83 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

Did this answer your question about what 36557 pays in North Carolina?

Tell us what you were actually trying to work out. We’ll answer you directly, or build the page that does.

Fee sheets · Coming soon

Put 36557 and the rest of your codes on one sheet

Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.

Join the waitlist