CPT code 36578: Catheter replacement, younger than 5 years2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $436.22 for 36578 nationally in the office and $189.05 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $382.36–$573.76.

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

What 36578 covers

This code covers complete replacement of a tunneled centrally inserted central venous catheter that has no implanted port or pump, when the patient is younger than five years and the existing venous access is used. It may describe exchange of a tunneled catheter such as a Broviac or Hickman line. A surgeon or interventional radiologist commonly performs the procedure in a hospital or other procedural setting. The key distinction is replacement through the same venous access, rather than placement at a new access site or replacement of a PICC or implanted port.

Report the code for the completed exchange, documenting the patient’s age, the catheter’s tunneled status and device type, and use of the same venous access. Related postoperative visits are included in the 10-day global period. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. 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.

Where 36578 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

36578 rates by state

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

How the 36578 rate is calculated

Each of 36578’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 36578

36578 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 51

36578 compared with similar codes

How to choose

36581Catheter replacementTunneled, without port

The replacement method and device type are the same; the age distinction separates the codes. Use 36578 for patients younger than five and 36581 for patients five and older.

36580Central catheter replacementNon-tunneled, same access

36580 is for replacement of a non-tunneled centrally inserted catheter. This code is for a tunneled catheter without a port or pump.

36582Device replacementWith port or pump

36582 applies to replacement of a tunneled central access device with a subcutaneous port. This code is for a tunneled catheter without a port or pump.

36575Catheter repairTunneled, without port or pump

36575 describes repair of a tunneled catheter. Choose this code when the catheter is completely replaced through the same venous access.

Codes related to 36578

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