CPT code 50433: Catheter placement, nephroureteral catheter2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Alabama

Report percutaneous placement of a catheter extending from the kidney through the ureter, commonly to provide drainage across a ureteral obstruction.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality4.6K Medicare services in 2024

In Alabama, Medicare pays $955.56 for 50433 in the office and $207.08 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$955.56Office (non-facility)
$207.08Hospital or facility
−11.1%vs the national office rate ($1,074.84)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 50433 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 50433 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Alabama
  2. What 50433 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 50433 covers

An interventional radiologist typically accesses the kidney’s collecting system through the skin and advances a nephroureteral catheter through the ureter, often into the bladder. The catheter can provide drainage across a ureteral obstruction or other condition that prevents normal urine flow. Imaging guidance is used to place the catheter, and diagnostic nephrostogram or ureterogram imaging performed as part of the placement is included. The service is commonly performed in a hospital or imaging center.

Report 50433 when the documented service places a nephroureteral catheter, rather than a catheter that remains in the kidney as in 50432. The procedure note should support the indication, percutaneous access, catheter course and endpoint, and laterality. This is a minor procedure with a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. For bilateral procedures, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted; 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 Alabama compares for 50433

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 50433 runs from $940.37 in Arkansas to $1,479.32 in San Benito County, CA. Alabama pays $955.56. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

50433 in Alabama vs other payment areas
  1. Alabama · this page$955.56
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$1,239.01+$283.45
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$1,244.63+$289.07
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$1,138.51+$182.95
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$1,103.38+$147.82
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$1,240.37+$284.81
  7. Alaska · Alaska$1,207.09+$251.53

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

Every other payment area

50433 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$940.37$205.58
ArizonaArizona$1,044.61$215.74
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$1,156.75$219.24
Chico, CACalifornia$1,155.13$217.61
El Centro, CACalifornia$1,155.22$217.70
Fresno, CACalifornia$1,155.13$217.61
Hanford, CACalifornia$1,155.13$217.61
Madera, CACalifornia$1,155.13$217.61

50433 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.

$940.37

$1,317.23

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

View every state and territory as a table
50433 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$1,207.091
AL$955.561
AR$940.371
AZ$1,044.611
CA$1,155.13–$1,479.3229
CO$1,130.081
CT$1,150.591
DC$1,244.631
DE$1,063.161
FL$1,044.46–$1,138.513
GA$981.82–$1,093.182
GU$1,189.701
HI$1,189.701
IA$988.281
ID$994.091
IL$1,007.13–$1,113.764
IN$1,000.571
KS$980.351
KY$974.231
LA$971.42–$1,024.572
MA$1,121.20–$1,252.842
MD$1,085.75–$1,244.633
ME$996.72–$1,060.272
MI$999.45–$1,055.742
MN$1,088.271
MO$951.17–$1,032.023
MS$946.121
MT$1,074.811
NC$1,008.631
ND$1,064.331
NE$995.081
NH$1,109.231
NJ$1,165.27–$1,229.252
NM$1,004.301
NV$1,072.781
NY$1,024.94–$1,269.275
OH$997.311
OK$975.361
OR$1,066.01–$1,172.042
PA$1,000.66–$1,117.822
PR$1,084.401
RI$1,105.511
SC$1,004.331
SD$1,063.091
TN$985.401
TX$993.23–$1,124.938
UT$1,019.471
VA$1,054.46–$1,244.632
VI$1,084.401
VT$1,057.171
WA$1,120.07–$1,282.492
WI$1,025.091
WV$965.511
WY$1,070.241

See 50433 in every payment locality

How the 50433 rate is calculated

Each of 50433’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 · 50433

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work4.92

4.92 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense26.73

26.73 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.53

0.53 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

32.1800

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$1,074.84

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

The exact Alabama inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

5,920

Code
50433
Physician work
4.92
Practice expense
26.73
Malpractice
0.53

GPCI2026.csv

4

Locality
Alabama
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.875
Malpractice
0.566
Office calculation for 50433 in Alabama
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work4.92× 1.0004.9200
Practice expense26.73× 0.87523.3888
Malpractice0.53× 0.5660.3000
Total RVUs28.6087
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Alabama$955.56

Office: (4.92 × 1 + 26.73 × 0.875 + 0.53 × 0.566) × $33.4009 = $955.56

Facility: (4.92 × 1 + 1.12 × 0.875 + 0.53 × 0.566) × $33.4009 = $207.08

Open 50433 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 50433

The CMS indicators that decide how 50433 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 50433

Catheter placement, nephroureteral 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)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
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 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

50433 without 50 · national office

$1,074.84

Catheter placement, nephroureteral catheter

50433-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$1,612.26

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

How 50433 has changed in Alabama

50433 · Office / nonfacility

$955.56

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $25.75 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $929.81 to $955.56 (2.8%).

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

    $929.81changed to$955.56

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 5.05 changed to 4.92
    • Practice expense RVU 26.93 changed to 26.73
    • Malpractice RVU 0.51 changed to 0.53
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.869 changed to 0.875
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.575 changed to 0.566

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $979.62changed to$929.81

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 27.71 changed to 26.93
    • Malpractice RVU 0.52 changed to 0.51

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $963.63changed to$979.62

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $1035.88changed to$963.63

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 28.63 changed to 27.71
    • Malpractice RVU 0.51 changed to 0.52
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.878 changed to 0.869
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.748 changed to 0.575
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $1092.57changed to$1035.88

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 29.40 changed to 28.63
    • Malpractice RVU 0.45 changed to 0.51
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.888 changed to 0.878
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.921 changed to 0.748

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $1110.93changed to$1092.57

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 29.70 changed to 29.40

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $1067.44changed to$1110.93

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 27.24 changed to 29.70
    • Malpractice RVU 0.44 changed to 0.45
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.889 changed to 0.888
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.707 changed to 0.921

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $1016.05changed to$1067.44

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 25.76 changed to 27.24
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.890 changed to 0.889
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.492 changed to 0.707

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $975.70changed to$1016.05

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 24.53 changed to 25.76
    • Malpractice RVU 0.45 changed to 0.44

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. April 1, 2018

    RVU18B

    No ratechanged to$975.70

    Held through RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    No ratechanged toNo rate

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D, RVU17A, RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D, RVU18AR1.

  12. 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$955.56$207.08RVU26D
2026-07-01$955.56$207.08RVU26C
2026-04-01$955.56$207.08RVU26B
2026-01-01$955.56$207.08RVU26A
2025-10-01$929.81$226.52RVU25D
2025-07-01$929.81$226.52RVU25C
2025-04-01$929.81$226.52RVU25B
2025-01-01$929.81$226.52RVU25A
2024-10-01$979.62$230.99RVU24D
2024-07-01$979.62$230.99RVU24C
2024-04-01$979.62$230.99RVU24B
2024-03-09$979.62$230.99RVU24AR
2024-01-01$963.63$227.22RVU24A
2023-10-01$1,035.88$239.40RVU23D
2023-07-01$1,035.88$239.40RVU23C
2023-04-01$1,035.88$239.40RVU23B
2023-01-01$1,035.88$239.40RVU23A
2022-10-01$1,092.57$245.34RVU22D
2022-07-01$1,092.57$245.34RVU22C
2022-04-01$1,092.57$245.34RVU22B
2022-01-01$1,092.57$245.34RVU22A
2021-10-01$1,110.93$247.99RVU21D
2021-07-01$1,110.93$247.99RVU21C
2021-04-01$1,110.93$247.99RVU21B
2021-01-01$1,110.93$247.99RVU21A
2020-10-01$1,067.44$254.76RVU20D
2020-07-01$1,067.44$254.76RVU20C
2020-04-01$1,067.44$254.76RVU20B
2020-01-01$1,067.44$254.76RVU20A
2019-10-01$1,016.05$252.35RVU19D
2019-07-01$1,016.05$252.35RVU19C
2019-04-01$1,016.05$252.35RVU19B
2019-01-01$1,016.05$252.35RVU19A
2018-10-01$975.70$253.21RVU18D
2018-07-01$975.70$253.21RVU18C
2018-04-01$975.70$253.21RVU18B
2018-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU18AR1
2017-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17D
2017-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17C
2017-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17B
2017-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17A
2016-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16D
2016-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16C
2016-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16B
2016-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16A
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 50433 for an earlier date of service

Where the Alabama rate applies

Alabama is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 595 cities and communities in Alabama. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Abanda
  • Abbeville
  • Adamsville
  • Addison
  • Akron
  • Alabaster
  • Albertville
  • Alexander City

Browse all communities in Alabama

50433 billing questions

How is 50433 different from 50432?

50433 is for a catheter advanced through the ureter as a nephroureteral catheter. Use 50432 when the catheter is placed in the kidney and does not extend through the ureter.

Can the nephrostogram or ureterogram be billed separately?

Diagnostic nephrostogram or ureterogram imaging performed as part of the catheter placement is included in 50433.

When should 50434 be considered instead?

50434 describes converting an existing nephrostomy catheter to a nephroureteral catheter. 50433 describes placement of the nephroureteral catheter rather than conversion of an existing catheter.

How should bilateral placement be reported?

For a bilateral procedure, report modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.

What happens when other procedures are performed in the same session?

Under the standard multiple procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included in 50433’s 0-day global period.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted for 50433. Co-surgeons and team surgery 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 50433PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,920 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for AlabamaGPCI2026.csv, line 4 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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