CPT code 36598: Device evaluation, fluoroscopic contrast study2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Use this code to evaluate an existing central venous access device by injecting contrast through it and assessing the device with fluoroscopic imaging.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities6.3K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $115.90 for 36598 nationally in the office and $30.39 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $102.15–$157.03.

Medicare rate · 36598

Device evaluation, fluoroscopic contrast study

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
0.72
Total RVUs
3.47
Global days
000

National rate · 2026

$115.90

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 36598 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

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

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 36598 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 36598 covers

A clinician injects contrast through an existing central venous access device and uses fluoroscopy to assess its function and position. Radiologists and interventional radiologists commonly perform the study when a port or catheter is suspected of leaking, being obstructed, disconnected, or malpositioned. The service evaluates the device; it is not a catheter insertion or repositioning procedure.

Report the study when the record identifies the device, the reason for evaluation, the contrast injection, and the fluoroscopic findings. Payment for this injection or minor service is available only when no other physician service is billed that day. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. In a same-session multiple-procedure situation, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Modifier 50 results in payment at 150% for a bilateral procedure. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires medical-necessity documentation; 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 36598 pays more and less

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

109 payment localities

$102.15 to $157.03

$102.15$129.59$157.03
One dot per payment locality, office / nonfacility. Hover a dot to see the locality; select it to open that rate.

109 of 109 payment localities

36598 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$103.70$28.88
Alaska$132.69$41.63
Arizona$112.79$29.93
Arkansas$102.15$28.70
Atlanta, GA$117.88$31.00
Austin, TX$120.87$30.41
Bakersfield, CA$124.04$30.32
Baltimore area, MD$123.37$31.63
Beaumont, TX$107.68$29.87
Brazoria, TX$114.77$30.04

36598 rates by state

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

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.

$102.15

$140.43

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

View every state and territory as a table
36598 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$132.691
AL$103.701
AR$102.151
AZ$112.791
CA$123.82–$157.0329
CO$121.411
CT$123.771
DC$133.401
DE$114.711
FL$113.14–$123.153
GA$106.68–$117.882
GU$127.181
HI$127.181
IA$106.881
ID$107.511
IL$109.43–$120.294
IN$108.161
KS$106.151
KY$105.771
LA$105.51–$110.942
MA$120.56–$134.002
MD$117.02–$133.403
ME$107.86–$114.232
MI$108.41–$114.372
MN$116.851
MO$103.49–$111.613
MS$102.851
MT$115.901
NC$109.061
ND$114.511
NE$107.551
NH$119.281
NJ$125.33–$131.902
NM$108.941
NV$115.601
NY$110.73–$136.365
OH$108.131
OK$105.801
OR$114.85–$125.622
PA$108.43–$120.462
PR$116.851
RI$119.061
SC$108.751
SD$114.351
TN$106.671
TX$107.68–$120.878
UT$110.291
VA$113.69–$133.402
VI$116.851
VT$113.851
WA$120.40–$137.002
WI$110.521
WV$105.181
WY$115.291

How the 36598 rate is calculated

Each of 36598’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 · 36598

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.72

0.72 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense2.68

2.68 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.07

0.07 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

3.4700

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$115.90

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 36598

The CMS indicators that decide how 36598 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 36598

Device evaluation, fluoroscopic contrast study

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is 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/technical9The concept doesn’t apply.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

36598 without 50 · national office

$115.90

Device evaluation, fluoroscopic contrast study

36598-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$173.85

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

36598 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

36598 vs 36597 vs 36593: Medicare rates

Office or facility?

  • 36598

    Device evaluation, fluoroscopic contrast study0.72 wRVU

    $115.90

  • 36597

    Catheter repositioning, existing central venous catheter1.18 wRVU

    $112.90−$3.00

  • 36593

    Device declot, thrombolytic treatment0 wRVU

    $38.08−$77.82

How to choose

36597Catheter repositioningExisting central venous catheter
36598 evaluates an existing device with contrast and fluoroscopy; 36597 describes catheter repositioning.
36593Device declotThrombolytic treatment
Choose 36593 when the service is declotting the device. Choose 36598 when contrast imaging is performed to evaluate it.

36598 billing questions

When should I report 36598 instead of 36597?

Report 36598 for contrast injection and fluoroscopic evaluation of an existing device. Report 36597 when the catheter is actually repositioned.

Does 36598 include the fluoroscopic imaging?

Fluoroscopy is part of the device evaluation described by this code. Do not separately report fluoroscopic imaging for the same study.

Is 36598 payable with another physician service on the same date?

CMS payment for this injection or minor service is limited to days when no other physician service is billed.

What documentation supports 36598?

Document the existing device, the clinical concern prompting evaluation, the contrast injection, and the fluoroscopic findings.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity. CMS does not permit co-surgeons or team surgery for this service.

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 36598PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 4,536 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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