CPT code 47531: Cholangiogram, through existing catheter2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $398.47 for 47531 nationally in the office and $61.79 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $346.66–$556.28.

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

What 47531 covers

This service uses an existing percutaneous biliary catheter to inject contrast and image the biliary tree under fluoroscopy. It can show duct anatomy, catheter position, or whether contrast passes through the ducts and into the bowel. Interventional radiologists and other physicians performing image-guided biliary procedures commonly provide it in a hospital or outpatient interventional setting. The code includes fluoroscopic guidance, image documentation, and the imaging report.

Report 47531 when the injection is performed through an already established catheter; use 47532 when the cholangiogram is performed through newly created access. The record should identify the existing catheter, document the contrast injection and fluoroscopic findings, and support the medical reason for imaging. This is a minor procedure with a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service; 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 47531 pays more and less

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

109 of 109 payment localities

47531 rates by state

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

How the 47531 rate is calculated

Each of 47531’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 47531

The CMS indicators that decide how 47531 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 51

47531 compared with similar codes

How to choose

47532CholangiographyExisting access

Both codes report percutaneous cholangiography. Choose 47531 for injection through an existing catheter and 47532 for imaging through newly created access.

47536Biliary catheter exchangePercutaneous

47531 describes a contrast study through an existing catheter; 47536 describes exchange of a biliary drainage catheter.

47537Biliary catheter removalPercutaneous removal

47531 images the biliary tree through an existing catheter. 47537 reports removal of a biliary drainage catheter.

Codes related to 47531

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