CPT code 36592: Catheter blood collection, established venous catheter2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California

Medicare pays $36.79–$48.34 for 36592 in the office in California, from Chico, CA to San Benito County, CA. 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.

What 36592 covers

Code 36592 covers obtaining a blood specimen through an established central or peripheral venous catheter, commonly a PICC. It represents the collection, not catheter insertion, replacement, or laboratory analysis. A nurse or other qualified clinical staff member may obtain the sample in an outpatient setting; the specimen can then be submitted for ordered testing.

Report 36592 when blood is collected through an established venous catheter, and document the access device and collection method. Use 36591 for collection from a completely implantable venous access device. CMS limits payment for this minor service to a day when no other physician service is billed. CMS identifies 36592 as technical-component-only and notes that a separate code covers interpretation.

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 36592 pays more and less in California

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

29 of 29 payment localities

How the 36592 rate is calculated

Each of 36592’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 36592

The CMS indicators that decide how 36592 is paid alongside other services.

36592 compared with similar codes

How to choose

36591Port blood drawImplantable venous access device

36592 is for collection through an established central or peripheral venous catheter. 36591 is for collection from a completely implantable venous access device.

36568PICC insertionUnder 5, no imaging

36568 reports PICC insertion for a patient younger than 5 years without imaging guidance; 36592 reports blood collection through an established catheter.

36569PICC insertionAge 5 or older, no imaging

36569 reports PICC insertion for a patient age 5 years or older without imaging guidance; 36592 reports specimen collection, not catheter placement.

Codes related to 36592

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