CPT code 36820: AV fistula, forearm vein transposition2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $722.01 for 36820 in a facility. There’s no office rate.

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 36820 nationwide

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

What 36820 covers

Code 36820 represents open creation of arteriovenous access using transposition of a native forearm vein. The surgeon mobilizes and repositions the vein to provide a usable superficial access route, then establishes the artery-to-vein connection. Vascular surgeons typically perform this operation in an operating room for a patient who needs durable hemodialysis access and whose anatomy supports use of a forearm vein.

Choose this code when the operative technique includes forearm vein transposition; a direct anastomosis without that transposition or an upper-arm vein transposition is coded differently. The operative report should identify the forearm vein and arterial connection, describe the transposition and anastomosis, and document the side. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When other procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 reports bilateral performance and is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery services may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is 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 Washington, DC area compares for 36820

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the facility rate for 36820 runs from $583.33 in Wisconsin to $836.29 in Alaska. Washington, DC area pays $722.01. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

Every other payment area

36820 rates by state

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

See 36820 in every payment locality

How the 36820 rate is calculated

Each of 36820’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 36820

36820 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 50

Codes related to 36820

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

How 36820 has changed in Washington, DC area

Price 36820 for an earlier date of service

Where the Washington, DC area rate applies

Washington, DC area is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1 cities and communities in District of Columbia. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

• Washington

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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