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

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, 2026One payment locality6.3K Medicare services in 2024

In Houston, TX, Medicare pays $116.35 for 36598 in the office and $31.44 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$116.35Office (non-facility)
$31.44Hospital or facility
+0.4%vs the national office rate ($115.90)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 36598 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 36598 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Houston, TX
  2. What 36598 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 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.

How Houston, TX compares for 36598

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 36598 runs from $102.15 in Arkansas to $157.03 in San Benito County, CA. Houston, TX pays $116.35. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

36598 in Houston, TX vs other payment areas
  1. Houston, TX · this page$116.35
  2. Austin, TX · Texas$120.87+$4.52
  3. Beaumont, TX · Texas$107.68−$8.67
  4. Brazoria, TX · Texas$114.77−$1.58
  5. Dallas, TX · Texas$115.43−$0.92
  6. Fort Worth, TX · Texas$114.56−$1.79
  7. Galveston, TX · Texas$115.06−$1.29

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

Every other payment area

36598 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Rest of TexasTexas$111.11$29.96
Los Angeles, CACalifornia$132.48$31.33
Washington, DC areaDistrict of Columbia$133.40$32.67
Miami, FLFlorida$123.15$34.13
Chicago, ILIllinois$119.54$33.61
Manhattan, NYNew York$133.31$33.95
AlaskaAlaska$132.69$41.63
AlabamaAlabama$103.70$28.88

36598 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.

$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

See 36598 in every payment locality

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.

The exact Houston, TX inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

4,536

Code
36598
Physician work
0.72
Practice expense
2.68
Malpractice
0.07

GPCI2026.csv

102

Locality
Houston, TX
Physician work
1.008
Practice expense
0.993
Malpractice
1.376
Office calculation for 36598 in Houston, TX
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.72× 1.0080.7258
Practice expense2.68× 0.9932.6612
Malpractice0.07× 1.3760.0963
Total RVUs3.4833
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Houston, TX$116.35

Office: (0.72 × 1.008 + 2.68 × 0.993 + 0.07 × 1.376) × $33.4009 = $116.35

Facility: (0.72 × 1.008 + 0.12 × 0.993 + 0.07 × 1.376) × $33.4009 = $31.44

Open 36598 in the RVU calculator

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

Codes related to 36598

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

Codes related to 36598
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Houston, TX
Used instead
36597Catheter repositioning, existing central venous catheterUse when the venous catheter is repositioned rather than evaluated with contrast.$114.61
36593Device declot, thrombolytic treatmentUse for declotting a vascular access device rather than imaging its function.$38.07
36581Catheter replacement, tunneled, without portUse when a tunneled central venous catheter is replaced rather than evaluated.$759.64

How 36598 has changed in Houston, TX

36598 · Office / nonfacility

$116.35

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $2.40 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $113.95 to $116.35 (2.1%).

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

    $113.95changed to$116.35

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.74 changed to 0.72
    • Malpractice RVU 0.06 changed to 0.07
    • Work GPCI 1.014 changed to 1.008
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.003 changed to 0.993
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.409 changed to 1.376

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $119.74changed to$113.95

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 2.74 changed to 2.68
    • Malpractice RVU 0.07 changed to 0.06

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $117.79changed to$119.74

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $125.48changed to$117.79

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 2.82 changed to 2.74
    • Work GPCI 1.023 changed to 1.014
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.016 changed to 1.003
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.154 changed to 1.409

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $131.12changed to$125.48

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 2.87 changed to 2.82
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.07
    • Work GPCI 1.032 changed to 1.023
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.029 changed to 1.016
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.900 changed to 1.154

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $131.22changed to$131.12

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 2.86 changed to 2.87
    • Malpractice RVU 0.06 changed to 0.08

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $126.50changed to$131.22

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 2.62 changed to 2.86
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.06
    • Work GPCI 1.026 changed to 1.032
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.020 changed to 1.029
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.918 changed to 0.900

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $120.38changed to$126.50

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 2.49 changed to 2.62
    • Malpractice RVU 0.07 changed to 0.08
    • Work GPCI 1.020 changed to 1.026
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.012 changed to 1.020
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.936 changed to 0.918

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $115.87changed to$120.38

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 2.37 changed to 2.49

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $114.20changed to$115.87

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 2.34 changed to 2.37
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.012
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.946 changed to 0.936

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $113.68changed to$114.20

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Work GPCI 1.019 changed to 1.020
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.006 changed to 1.009
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.955 changed to 0.946

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $113.38changed to$113.68

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 2.33 changed to 2.34
    • Malpractice RVU 0.06 changed to 0.07

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $112.82changed to$113.38

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $112.68changed to$112.82

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 2.32 changed to 2.33
    • Malpractice RVU 0.07 changed to 0.06
    • Work GPCI 1.014 changed to 1.019
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.004 changed to 1.006
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.939 changed to 0.955

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $112.83changed to$112.68

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 2.50 changed to 2.32
    • Work GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.014
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.002 changed to 1.004
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.923 changed to 0.939

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $112.83

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$116.35$31.44RVU26D
2026-07-01$116.35$31.44RVU26C
2026-04-01$116.35$31.44RVU26B
2026-01-01$116.35$31.44RVU26A
2025-10-01$113.95$34.79RVU25D
2025-07-01$113.95$34.79RVU25C
2025-04-01$113.95$34.79RVU25B
2025-01-01$113.95$34.79RVU25A
2024-10-01$119.74$35.94RVU24D
2024-07-01$119.74$35.94RVU24C
2024-04-01$119.74$35.94RVU24B
2024-03-09$119.74$35.94RVU24AR
2024-01-01$117.79$35.35RVU24A
2023-10-01$125.48$36.65RVU23D
2023-07-01$125.48$36.65RVU23C
2023-04-01$125.48$36.65RVU23B
2023-01-01$125.48$36.65RVU23A
2022-10-01$131.12$37.47RVU22D
2022-07-01$131.12$37.47RVU22C
2022-04-01$131.12$37.47RVU22B
2022-01-01$131.12$37.47RVU22A
2021-10-01$131.22$37.15RVU21D
2021-07-01$131.22$37.15RVU21C
2021-04-01$131.22$37.15RVU21B
2021-01-01$131.22$37.15RVU21A
2020-10-01$126.50$39.25RVU20D
2020-07-01$126.50$39.25RVU20C
2020-04-01$126.50$39.25RVU20B
2020-01-01$126.50$39.25RVU20A
2019-10-01$120.38$38.68RVU19D
2019-07-01$120.38$38.68RVU19C
2019-04-01$120.38$38.68RVU19B
2019-01-01$120.38$38.68RVU19A
2018-10-01$115.87$38.64RVU18D
2018-07-01$115.87$38.64RVU18C
2018-04-01$115.87$38.64RVU18B
2018-01-01$115.87$38.64RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$114.20$38.88RVU17D
2017-07-01$114.20$38.88RVU17C
2017-04-01$114.20$38.88RVU17B
2017-01-01$114.20$38.88RVU17A
2016-10-01$113.68$38.76RVU16D
2016-07-01$113.68$38.76RVU16C
2016-04-01$113.68$38.76RVU16B
2016-01-01$113.68$38.76RVU16A
2015-10-01$113.38$38.55RVU15D
2015-07-01$113.38$38.55RVU15C
2015-04-01$112.82$38.36RVU15B
2015-01-01$112.82$38.36RVU15A
2014-10-01$112.68$38.59RVU14D
2014-07-01$112.68$38.59RVU14C
2014-04-01$112.68$38.59RVU14B
2014-01-01$112.68$38.59RVU14A
2013-10-01$112.83$36.47RVU13D
2013-07-01$112.83$36.47RVU13C
2013-04-01$112.83$36.47RVU13B
2013-01-01$112.83$36.47RVU13AR

Price 36598 for an earlier date of service

Where the Houston, TX rate applies

Houston, TX is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 46 cities and communities in Texas. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

Browse all communities in Texas

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)
Geographic factors for Houston, TXGPCI2026.csv, line 102 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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