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CPT code 46221: Hemorrhoid ligation, rubber-band technique2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in North Carolina

Reports office or facility treatment of internal hemorrhoids by placing rubber bands around hemorrhoidal tissue to reduce its blood supply.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality68.8K Medicare services in 2024

In North Carolina, Medicare pays $305.45 for 46221 in the office and $185.47 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$305.45Office (non-facility)
$185.47Hospital or facility
−6.2%vs the national office rate ($325.66)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 46221 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 46221 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in North Carolina
  2. What 46221 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 46221 covers

This procedure treats internal hemorrhoids by placing a tight rubber band around the base of hemorrhoidal tissue, typically with an anoscope for visualization. Colorectal surgeons, general surgeons, and gastroenterologists commonly perform it in an outpatient office or facility for symptomatic internal hemorrhoids, such as those causing bleeding or prolapse. The service is for ligation by rubber band, not removal of external hemorrhoids or excision of hemorrhoidal tissue.

Report 46221 for the band-ligation service, including when more than one internal hemorrhoid is treated in the session; document the indication, internal site, technique, and treated tissue. Related postoperative visits for 10 days are included. When other procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service, and co-surgeon and team-surgery billing 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 North Carolina compares for 46221

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 46221 runs from $286.44 in Arkansas to $433.20 in San Benito County, CA. North Carolina pays $305.45. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

46221 in North Carolina vs other payment areas
  1. North Carolina · this page$305.45
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$368.10+$62.65
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$373.32+$67.87
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$353.75+$48.30
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$342.95+$37.50
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$375.99+$70.54
  7. Alaska · Alaska$374.06+$68.61

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

Every other payment area

46221 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$290.84$178.32
ArkansasArkansas$286.44$175.97
ArizonaArizona$316.59$191.98
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$345.15$204.21
Chico, CACalifornia$344.12$203.18
El Centro, CACalifornia$344.18$203.24
Fresno, CACalifornia$344.12$203.18
Hanford, CACalifornia$344.12$203.18

46221 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.

$286.44

$388.66

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

View every state and territory as a table
46221 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$374.061
AL$290.841
AR$286.441
AZ$316.591
CA$344.12–$433.2029
CO$339.101
CT$347.951
DC$373.321
DE$321.991
FL$321.29–$353.753
GA$302.39–$332.102
GU$353.041
HI$353.041
IA$298.281
ID$300.381
IL$311.83–$342.954
IN$302.191
KS$296.961
KY$298.351
LA$297.92–$313.322
MA$337.00–$373.432
MD$328.28–$373.323
ME$302.17–$319.092
MI$306.61–$325.622
MN$324.061
MO$292.67–$314.323
MS$289.601
MT$325.631
NC$305.451
ND$318.521
NE$299.951
NH$333.871
NJ$351.68–$369.212
NM$308.421
NV$323.891
NY$310.25–$385.645
OH$305.151
OK$297.641
OR$321.14–$350.102
PA$305.58–$339.072
PR$328.081
RI$333.631
SC$305.861
SD$317.671
TN$298.541
TX$303.49–$338.188
UT$310.221
VA$318.10–$373.322
VI$328.081
VT$317.351
WA$336.33–$381.062
WI$307.391
WV$299.821
WY$322.531

See 46221 in every payment locality

How the 46221 rate is calculated

Each of 46221’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 · 46221

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work2.30

2.30 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense7.09

7.09 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.36

0.36 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

9.7500

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$325.66

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

The exact North Carolina inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

5,581

Code
46221
Physician work
2.30
Practice expense
7.09
Malpractice
0.36

GPCI2026.csv

83

Locality
North Carolina
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.933
Malpractice
0.639
Office calculation for 46221 in North Carolina
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.30× 1.0002.3000
Practice expense7.09× 0.9336.6150
Malpractice0.36× 0.6390.2300
Total RVUs9.1450
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, North Carolina$305.45

Office: (2.3 × 1 + 7.09 × 0.933 + 0.36 × 0.639) × $33.4009 = $305.45

Facility: (2.3 × 1 + 3.24 × 0.933 + 0.36 × 0.639) × $33.4009 = $185.47

Open 46221 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 46221

46221 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 46221

Hemorrhoid ligation, rubber-band technique

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period010Minor procedure: the day of the procedure plus 10 days after are included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.10/0.80/0.10Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 46221

Hemorrhoid ligation, rubber-band technique

10-day global period ends

Oct 11, 2026

Covers Oct 1, 2026 through Oct 11, 2026 (11 days).

Visit on Oct 31, 2026

After the global period ends: visits and procedures are billed normally.

SurgeryVisit
Sep 28, 2026Oct 14, 2026

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

46221 without 51 · national office

$325.66

Hemorrhoid ligation, rubber-band technique

46221-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$162.83

When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).

When to use modifier 51

Codes related to 46221

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

Codes related to 46221
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, North Carolina
Used instead
46945Hemorrhoid ligation, one column, no imagingInternal hemorrhoid ligation using a method other than rubber bands for a single hemorrhoid group.No office rate
46946Hemorrhoid ligation, two or more, without imagingInternal hemorrhoid ligation using a method other than rubber bands for multiple groups.No office rate
46930Hemorrhoid treatment, thermal energyTreats internal hemorrhoids by thermal destruction rather than rubber-band ligation.$232.58
46255Hemorrhoidectomy, one internal and external groupExcisional treatment of one internal and external hemorrhoid group rather than band ligation.$543.82
46260Hemorrhoidectomy, internal and external, 2+ groupsExcisional treatment of multiple internal and external hemorrhoid groups rather than band ligation.No office rate

How 46221 has changed in North Carolina

46221 · Office / nonfacility

$305.45

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $44.65 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $260.80 to $305.45 (17.1%).

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

    $260.80changed to$305.45

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 2.36 changed to 2.30
    • Practice expense RVU 5.90 changed to 7.09
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.926 changed to 0.933
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.665 changed to 0.639

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $265.70changed to$260.80

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 5.82 changed to 5.90
    • Malpractice RVU 0.35 changed to 0.36

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $261.37changed to$265.70

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $271.91changed to$261.37

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 5.83 changed to 5.82
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.927 changed to 0.926
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.742 changed to 0.665

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $281.10changed to$271.91

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 5.91 changed to 5.83
    • Malpractice RVU 0.34 changed to 0.35
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.928 changed to 0.927
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.819 changed to 0.742

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $283.15changed to$281.10

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Malpractice RVU 0.33 changed to 0.34

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $267.10changed to$283.15

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 5.16 changed to 5.91
    • Malpractice RVU 0.32 changed to 0.33
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.930 changed to 0.928
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.757 changed to 0.819

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $263.51changed to$267.10

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 5.05 changed to 5.16
    • Malpractice RVU 0.36 changed to 0.32
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.931 changed to 0.930
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.695 changed to 0.757

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $261.54changed to$263.51

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 5.00 changed to 5.05

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $259.14changed to$261.54

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 4.93 changed to 5.00
    • Malpractice RVU 0.37 changed to 0.36
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.732 changed to 0.695

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $258.50changed to$259.14

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 4.92 changed to 4.93
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.930 changed to 0.931
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.768 changed to 0.732

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $262.10changed to$258.50

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 5.00 changed to 4.92

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $260.80changed to$262.10

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $256.17changed to$260.80

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 4.85 changed to 5.00
    • Malpractice RVU 0.39 changed to 0.37
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.929 changed to 0.930
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.732 changed to 0.768

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $263.14changed to$256.17

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 5.49 changed to 4.85
    • Malpractice RVU 0.41 changed to 0.39
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.927 changed to 0.929
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.695 changed to 0.732

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $263.14

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$305.45$185.47RVU26D
2026-07-01$305.45$185.47RVU26C
2026-04-01$305.45$185.47RVU26B
2026-01-01$305.45$185.47RVU26A
2025-10-01$260.80$179.03RVU25D
2025-07-01$260.80$179.03RVU25C
2025-04-01$260.80$179.03RVU25B
2025-01-01$260.80$179.03RVU25A
2024-10-01$265.70$181.55RVU24D
2024-07-01$265.70$181.55RVU24C
2024-04-01$265.70$181.55RVU24B
2024-03-09$265.70$181.55RVU24AR
2024-01-01$261.37$178.59RVU24A
2023-10-01$271.91$184.90RVU23D
2023-07-01$271.91$184.90RVU23C
2023-04-01$271.91$184.90RVU23B
2023-01-01$271.91$184.90RVU23A
2022-10-01$281.10$190.22RVU22D
2022-07-01$281.10$190.22RVU22C
2022-04-01$281.10$190.22RVU22B
2022-01-01$281.10$190.22RVU22A
2021-10-01$283.15$189.89RVU21D
2021-07-01$283.15$189.89RVU21C
2021-04-01$283.15$189.89RVU21B
2021-01-01$283.15$189.89RVU21A
2020-10-01$267.10$189.23RVU20D
2020-07-01$267.10$189.23RVU20C
2020-04-01$267.10$189.23RVU20B
2020-01-01$267.10$189.23RVU20A
2019-10-01$263.51$187.68RVU19D
2019-07-01$263.51$187.68RVU19C
2019-04-01$263.51$187.68RVU19B
2019-01-01$263.51$187.68RVU19A
2018-10-01$261.54$186.80RVU18D
2018-07-01$261.54$186.80RVU18C
2018-04-01$261.54$186.80RVU18B
2018-01-01$261.54$186.80RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$259.14$186.30RVU17D
2017-07-01$259.14$186.30RVU17C
2017-04-01$259.14$186.30RVU17B
2017-01-01$259.14$186.30RVU17A
2016-10-01$258.50$185.91RVU16D
2016-07-01$258.50$185.91RVU16C
2016-04-01$258.50$185.91RVU16B
2016-01-01$258.50$185.91RVU16A
2015-10-01$262.10$188.58RVU15D
2015-07-01$262.10$188.58RVU15C
2015-04-01$260.80$187.65RVU15B
2015-01-01$260.80$187.65RVU15A
2014-10-01$256.17$184.96RVU14D
2014-07-01$256.17$184.96RVU14C
2014-04-01$256.17$184.96RVU14B
2014-01-01$256.17$184.96RVU14A
2013-10-01$263.14$186.18RVU13D
2013-07-01$263.14$186.18RVU13C
2013-04-01$263.14$186.18RVU13B
2013-01-01$263.14$186.18RVU13AR

Price 46221 for an earlier date of service

Where the North Carolina rate applies

North Carolina is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 785 cities and communities in North Carolina. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Aberdeen
  • Advance
  • Ahoskie
  • Alamance
  • Albemarle
  • Alexis
  • Alliance
  • Altamahaw

Browse all communities in North Carolina

46221 billing questions

Does 46221 cover one band or multiple bands?

The code covers rubber-band ligation of internal hemorrhoid tissue, including when multiple sites are treated in the session. Document the treated internal tissue and technique rather than reporting a separate unit for each band.

How is this different from excisional hemorrhoidectomy?

46221 describes rubber-band ligation of internal hemorrhoids. Codes such as 46255 and 46260 describe excision, with the applicable code depending on the tissue and extent removed.

Are related postoperative visits separately reported?

Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in 46221.

Can modifier 50 be used when hemorrhoids are treated on both sides?

No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply, and modifier 50 is inappropriate for this service.

How does Medicare handle other procedures performed in the same session?

Under the standard multiple-procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the other procedures are paid at 50% when performed in the same session.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be billed for the ligation?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for 46221. Co-surgeon and team-surgery billing are not permitted.

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 46221PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,581 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for North CarolinaGPCI2026.csv, line 83 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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