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

Reports contrast injection through an existing biliary catheter to outline the bile ducts, with fluoroscopic imaging and interpretation included.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality5.5K Medicare services in 2024

In Colorado, Medicare pays $420.45 for 47531 in the office and $62.22 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$420.45Office (non-facility)
$62.22Hospital or facility
+5.5%vs the national office rate ($398.47)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 47531 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 47531 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Colorado
  2. What 47531 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 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.

How Colorado compares for 47531

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 47531 runs from $346.66 in Arkansas to $556.28 in San Benito County, CA. Colorado pays $420.45. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

47531 in Colorado vs other payment areas
  1. Colorado · this page$420.45
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$462.94+$42.49
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$463.84+$43.39
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$420.03−$0.42
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$406.58−$13.87
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$460.85+$40.40
  7. Alaska · Alaska$440.42+$19.97

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

Every other payment area

47531 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$352.52$57.93
ArkansasArkansas$346.66$57.45
ArizonaArizona$386.91$60.66
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$431.18$62.18
Chico, CACalifornia$430.76$61.75
El Centro, CACalifornia$430.78$61.78
Fresno, CACalifornia$430.76$61.75
Hanford, CACalifornia$430.76$61.75

47531 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.

$346.66

$493.52

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

View every state and territory as a table
47531 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$440.421
AL$352.521
AR$346.661
AZ$386.911
CA$430.76–$556.2829
CO$420.451
CT$427.361
DC$463.841
DE$394.001
FL$385.36–$420.033
GA$361.42–$405.162
GU$444.641
HI$444.641
IA$365.791
ID$367.901
IL$370.54–$411.874
IN$370.421
KS$362.421
KY$359.071
LA$357.87–$378.382
MA$416.83–$467.862
MD$402.73–$463.843
ME$368.59–$393.582
MI$368.51–$389.382
MN$405.371
MO$349.86–$381.623
MS$348.411
MT$398.461
NC$373.241
ND$395.701
NE$368.511
NH$412.291
NJ$432.95–$457.682
NM$370.251
NV$398.041
NY$379.52–$471.615
OH$367.941
OK$359.831
OR$395.68–$436.962
PA$369.40–$414.552
PR$402.271
RI$410.371
SC$371.071
SD$395.371
TN$364.331
TX$366.52–$418.408
UT$376.911
VA$391.12–$463.842
VI$402.271
VT$392.651
WA$416.53–$479.502
WI$380.481
WV$354.461
WY$397.261

See 47531 in every payment locality

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.

How the rate is built · 47531

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.27

1.27 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense10.52

10.52 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.14

0.14 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

11.9300

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$398.47

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

The exact Colorado inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

5,683

Code
47531
Physician work
1.27
Practice expense
10.52
Malpractice
0.14

GPCI2026.csv

37

Locality
Colorado
Physician work
1.012
Practice expense
1.064
Malpractice
0.781
Office calculation for 47531 in Colorado
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.27× 1.0121.2852
Practice expense10.52× 1.06411.1933
Malpractice0.14× 0.7810.1093
Total RVUs12.5879
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Colorado$420.45

Office: (1.27 × 1.012 + 10.52 × 1.064 + 0.14 × 0.781) × $33.4009 = $420.45

Facility: (1.27 × 1.012 + 0.44 × 1.064 + 0.14 × 0.781) × $33.4009 = $62.22

Open 47531 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 47531

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

CMS payment indicators · 47531

Cholangiogram, through existing catheter

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)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.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

47531 without 51 · national office

$398.47

Cholangiogram, through existing catheter

47531-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$199.24

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

How 47531 has changed in Colorado

47531 · Office / nonfacility

$420.45

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $10.13 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $410.32 to $420.45 (2.5%).

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

    $410.32changed to$420.45

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.30 changed to 1.27
    • Practice expense RVU 10.70 changed to 10.52
    • Malpractice RVU 0.13 changed to 0.14
    • Work GPCI 1.008 changed to 1.012
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.053 changed to 1.064
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.827 changed to 0.781

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $434.52changed to$410.32

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 11.05 changed to 10.70

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $427.43changed to$434.52

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $454.57changed to$427.43

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 11.44 changed to 11.05
    • Malpractice RVU 0.12 changed to 0.13
    • Work GPCI 1.005 changed to 1.008
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.050 changed to 1.053
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.797 changed to 0.827
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $474.77changed to$454.57

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 11.78 changed to 11.44
    • Malpractice RVU 0.11 changed to 0.12
    • Work GPCI 1.001 changed to 1.005
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.047 changed to 1.050
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.767 changed to 0.797

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $460.25changed to$474.77

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 11.26 changed to 11.78
    • Malpractice RVU 0.13 changed to 0.11

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $407.66changed to$460.25

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 9.58 changed to 11.26
    • Malpractice RVU 0.11 changed to 0.13
    • Work GPCI 1.000 changed to 1.001
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.033 changed to 1.047
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.905 changed to 0.767

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $362.10changed to$407.66

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 8.47 changed to 9.58
    • Malpractice RVU 0.12 changed to 0.11
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.018 changed to 1.033
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.042 changed to 0.905

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $329.09changed to$362.10

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 7.58 changed to 8.47

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $322.99changed to$329.09

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 7.46 changed to 7.58
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.015 changed to 1.018
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.066 changed to 1.042

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $383.11changed to$322.99

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Work RVU 1.80 changed to 1.30
    • Practice expense RVU 8.62 changed to 7.46
    • Malpractice RVU 0.17 changed to 0.12
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.011 changed to 1.015
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.090 changed to 1.066

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    No ratechanged to$383.11

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D, RVU14A, RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D, RVU15A, RVU15B, RVU15C, RVU15D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$420.45$62.22RVU26D
2026-07-01$420.45$62.22RVU26C
2026-04-01$420.45$62.22RVU26B
2026-01-01$420.45$62.22RVU26A
2025-10-01$410.32$68.00RVU25D
2025-07-01$410.32$68.00RVU25C
2025-04-01$410.32$68.00RVU25B
2025-01-01$410.32$68.00RVU25A
2024-10-01$434.52$69.28RVU24D
2024-07-01$434.52$69.28RVU24C
2024-04-01$434.52$69.28RVU24B
2024-03-09$434.52$69.28RVU24AR
2024-01-01$427.43$68.15RVU24A
2023-10-01$454.57$69.93RVU23D
2023-07-01$454.57$69.93RVU23C
2023-04-01$454.57$69.93RVU23B
2023-01-01$454.57$69.93RVU23A
2022-10-01$474.77$70.42RVU22D
2022-07-01$474.77$70.42RVU22C
2022-04-01$474.77$70.42RVU22B
2022-01-01$474.77$70.42RVU22A
2021-10-01$460.25$71.54RVU21D
2021-07-01$460.25$71.54RVU21C
2021-04-01$460.25$71.54RVU21B
2021-01-01$460.25$71.54RVU21A
2020-10-01$407.66$74.00RVU20D
2020-07-01$407.66$74.00RVU20C
2020-04-01$407.66$74.00RVU20B
2020-01-01$407.66$74.00RVU20A
2019-10-01$362.10$74.84RVU19D
2019-07-01$362.10$74.84RVU19C
2019-04-01$362.10$74.84RVU19B
2019-01-01$362.10$74.84RVU19A
2018-10-01$329.09$75.12RVU18D
2018-07-01$329.09$75.12RVU18C
2018-04-01$329.09$75.12RVU18B
2018-01-01$329.09$75.12RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$322.99$74.56RVU17D
2017-07-01$322.99$74.56RVU17C
2017-04-01$322.99$74.56RVU17B
2017-01-01$322.99$74.56RVU17A
2016-10-01$383.11$100.40RVU16D
2016-07-01$383.11$100.40RVU16C
2016-04-01$383.11$100.40RVU16B
2016-01-01$383.11$100.40RVU16A
2015-10-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU15D
2015-07-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU15C
2015-04-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU15B
2015-01-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU15A
2014-10-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU14D
2014-07-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU14C
2014-04-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU14B
2014-01-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU14A
2013-10-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU13D
2013-07-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU13C
2013-04-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU13B
2013-01-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU13AR

Price 47531 for an earlier date of service

Where the Colorado rate applies

Colorado is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 485 cities and communities in Colorado. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Acres Green
  • Aetna Estates
  • Aguilar
  • Air Force Academy
  • Akron
  • Alamosa
  • Alamosa East
  • Allenspark

Browse all communities in Colorado

47531 billing questions

When should 47531 be chosen over 47532?

Use 47531 for contrast injection through a catheter already in place. Use 47532 when the cholangiogram is performed through newly created access.

Is fluoroscopic guidance separately reported?

No. Fluoroscopic guidance, image documentation, and the imaging report are included in 47531.

Can modifier 50 be appended?

No. The bilateral adjustment does not apply to this code, and modifier 50 is inappropriate.

How does the multiple procedure rule affect payment?

For procedures performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the other procedures are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction.

What documentation supports reporting 47531?

Document that an existing biliary catheter was used, the contrast injection and fluoroscopic findings, and the clinical purpose of the study.

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 47531PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,683 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for ColoradoGPCI2026.csv, line 37 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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