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CPT code 51600: Bladder injection, cystography or voiding study2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Reports contrast instillation into the bladder for cystography or voiding urethrocystography, separate from the radiographic imaging service when separately coded.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality18.4K Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $240.58 for 51600 in the office and $40.31 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$240.58Office (non-facility)
$40.31Hospital or facility
+16.0%vs the national office rate ($207.42)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 51600 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 51600 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 51600 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 51600 covers

CPT 51600 represents placing contrast into the bladder for a cystographic examination or a study that images the bladder during voiding. The contrast is typically introduced through a urinary catheter. Radiologists and urologists commonly perform the injection in hospital imaging departments and outpatient radiology settings. The code identifies the contrast-injection service, not the resulting images or their interpretation.

Report 51600 when the clinician performs the bladder contrast injection; documentation should identify the study and confirm that contrast was instilled into the bladder. Report the applicable imaging service separately when performed and supported. The code has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay for an assistant at surgery, and 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 Washington, DC area compares for 51600

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 51600 runs from $181.19 in Arkansas to $286.84 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $240.58. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

51600 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$240.58
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$239.74−$0.84
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$219.22−$21.36
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$212.39−$28.19
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$239.48−$1.10
  6. Alaska · Alaska$231.85−$8.73
  7. Alabama · Alabama$184.15−$56.43

Other areas in District of Columbia first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

51600 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$181.19$35.15
ArizonaArizona$201.54$36.80
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$223.66$37.32
Chico, CACalifornia$223.38$37.05
El Centro, CACalifornia$223.39$37.06
Fresno, CACalifornia$223.38$37.05
Hanford, CACalifornia$223.38$37.05
Madera, CACalifornia$223.38$37.05

51600 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.

$181.19

$255.11

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

View every state and territory as a table
51600 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$231.851
AL$184.151
AR$181.191
AZ$201.541
CA$223.38–$286.8429
CO$218.351
CT$222.151
DC$240.581
DE$205.151
FL$201.20–$219.223
GA$189.02–$210.922
GU$230.221
HI$230.221
IA$190.671
ID$191.781
IL$193.83–$214.684
IN$193.051
KS$189.061
KY$187.661
LA$187.09–$197.462
MA$216.58–$242.352
MD$209.57–$240.583
ME$192.23–$204.732
MI$192.52–$203.332
MN$210.401
MO$183.10–$198.993
MS$182.211
MT$207.411
NC$194.561
ND$205.631
NE$192.021
NH$214.251
NJ$225.02–$237.542
NM$193.441
NV$207.091
NY$197.74–$245.045
OH$192.161
OK$187.951
OR$205.82–$226.612
PA$192.85–$215.722
PR$209.311
RI$213.441
SC$193.621
SD$205.421
TN$190.041
TX$191.39–$217.328
UT$196.571
VA$203.55–$240.582
VI$209.311
VT$204.181
WA$216.39–$248.192
WI$197.961
WV$185.701
WY$206.641

See 51600 in every payment locality

How the 51600 rate is calculated

Each of 51600’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 · 51600

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.86

0.86 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense5.26

5.26 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.09

0.09 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

6.2100

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$207.42

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

The exact Washington, DC area inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

6,042

Code
51600
Physician work
0.86
Practice expense
5.26
Malpractice
0.09

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 51600 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.86× 1.0540.9064
Practice expense5.26× 1.1786.1963
Malpractice0.09× 1.1130.1002
Total RVUs7.2029
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$240.58

Office: (0.86 × 1.054 + 5.26 × 1.178 + 0.09 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $240.58

Facility: (0.86 × 1.054 + 0.17 × 1.178 + 0.09 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $40.31

Open 51600 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 51600

The CMS indicators that decide how 51600 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 51600

Bladder injection, cystography or voiding study

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

51600 without 51 · national office

$207.42

Bladder injection, cystography or voiding study

51600-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$103.71

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 51600

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

Codes related to 51600
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Used instead
51610Bladder injection, for x-ray imagingUsed for contrast injection in retrograde urethrocystography rather than bladder cystography.$146.60
Often billed with
74430Bladder imaging, retrograde contrastRadiographic imaging and interpretation for cystography may accompany the injection service.$47.83
74455Voiding study, urethra and bladderImaging and interpretation for a voiding urethrocystographic study may accompany the injection service.$122.94

How 51600 has changed in Washington, DC area

51600 · Office / nonfacility

$240.58

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $8.52 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $232.06 to $240.58 (3.7%).

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

    $232.06changed to$240.58

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.88 changed to 0.86
    • Practice expense RVU 5.16 changed to 5.26
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.09
    • Work GPCI 1.057 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.192 changed to 1.178
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.168 changed to 1.113

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $245.55changed to$232.06

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 5.32 changed to 5.16
    • Malpractice RVU 0.09 changed to 0.08

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $241.54changed to$245.55

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $259.05changed to$241.54

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 5.43 changed to 5.32
    • Malpractice RVU 0.10 changed to 0.09
    • Work GPCI 1.056 changed to 1.057
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.214 changed to 1.192
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.231 changed to 1.168

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $273.95changed to$259.05

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 5.56 changed to 5.43
    • Malpractice RVU 0.09 changed to 0.10
    • Work GPCI 1.054 changed to 1.056
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.236 changed to 1.214
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.294 changed to 1.231

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $273.63changed to$273.95

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 5.50 changed to 5.56

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $253.82changed to$273.63

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 4.91 changed to 5.50
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.221 changed to 1.236
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.277 changed to 1.294

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $237.00changed to$253.82

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 4.60 changed to 4.91
    • Work GPCI 1.045 changed to 1.049
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.221
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.261 changed to 1.277

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $223.29changed to$237.00

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 4.29 changed to 4.60

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $220.97changed to$223.29

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 4.26 changed to 4.29
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.09
    • Work GPCI 1.048 changed to 1.045
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.271 changed to 1.261

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $220.17changed to$220.97

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 4.24 changed to 4.26
    • Malpractice RVU 0.09 changed to 0.08
    • Work GPCI 1.051 changed to 1.048
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.280 changed to 1.271

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $220.53changed to$220.17

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 4.23 changed to 4.24

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $219.43changed to$220.53

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $215.25changed to$219.43

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 4.15 changed to 4.23
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.09
    • Work GPCI 1.050 changed to 1.051
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.202 changed to 1.205
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.280

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $216.68changed to$215.25

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 4.47 changed to 4.15
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.050
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.198 changed to 1.202
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.130 changed to 1.205

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $216.68

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$240.58$40.31RVU26D
2026-07-01$240.58$40.31RVU26C
2026-04-01$240.58$40.31RVU26B
2026-01-01$240.58$40.31RVU26A
2025-10-01$232.06$45.45RVU25D
2025-07-01$232.06$45.45RVU25C
2025-04-01$232.06$45.45RVU25B
2025-01-01$232.06$45.45RVU25A
2024-10-01$245.55$46.76RVU24D
2024-07-01$245.55$46.76RVU24C
2024-04-01$245.55$46.76RVU24B
2024-03-09$245.55$46.76RVU24AR
2024-01-01$241.54$46.00RVU24A
2023-10-01$259.05$48.42RVU23D
2023-07-01$259.05$48.42RVU23C
2023-04-01$259.05$48.42RVU23B
2023-01-01$259.05$48.42RVU23A
2022-10-01$273.95$49.39RVU22D
2022-07-01$273.95$49.39RVU22C
2022-04-01$273.95$49.39RVU22B
2022-01-01$273.95$49.39RVU22A
2021-10-01$273.63$49.80RVU21D
2021-07-01$273.63$49.80RVU21C
2021-04-01$273.63$49.80RVU21B
2021-01-01$273.63$49.80RVU21A
2020-10-01$253.82$51.12RVU20D
2020-07-01$253.82$51.12RVU20C
2020-04-01$253.82$51.12RVU20B
2020-01-01$253.82$51.12RVU20A
2019-10-01$237.00$51.13RVU19D
2019-07-01$237.00$51.13RVU19C
2019-04-01$237.00$51.13RVU19B
2019-01-01$237.00$51.13RVU19A
2018-10-01$223.29$51.07RVU18D
2018-07-01$223.29$51.07RVU18C
2018-04-01$223.29$51.07RVU18B
2018-01-01$223.29$51.07RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$220.97$50.59RVU17D
2017-07-01$220.97$50.59RVU17C
2017-04-01$220.97$50.59RVU17B
2017-01-01$220.97$50.59RVU17A
2016-10-01$220.17$50.61RVU16D
2016-07-01$220.17$50.61RVU16C
2016-04-01$220.17$50.61RVU16B
2016-01-01$220.17$50.61RVU16A
2015-10-01$220.53$51.23RVU15D
2015-07-01$220.53$51.23RVU15C
2015-04-01$219.43$50.97RVU15B
2015-01-01$219.43$50.97RVU15A
2014-10-01$215.25$49.90RVU14D
2014-07-01$215.25$49.90RVU14C
2014-04-01$215.25$49.90RVU14B
2014-01-01$215.25$49.90RVU14A
2013-10-01$216.68$47.12RVU13D
2013-07-01$216.68$47.12RVU13C
2013-04-01$216.68$47.12RVU13B
2013-01-01$216.68$47.12RVU13AR

Price 51600 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

Browse all communities in District of Columbia

51600 billing questions

How is 51600 different from 51610?

51600 is for contrast injection into the bladder for cystography or a voiding study. 51610 is for injection used in retrograde urethrocystography.

Can the imaging service be reported separately?

Yes. The injection and the radiographic imaging or interpretation are distinct services; report the applicable imaging code when that service is performed and documented.

Should modifier 50 be used for a bilateral study?

No. Bilateral adjustment does not apply to 51600, and modifier 50 is inappropriate.

What documentation supports 51600?

Document the cystographic or voiding study and that contrast was instilled into the bladder. The record should distinguish the injection from the imaging service.

How does the multiple-procedure reduction affect 51600?

For procedures performed in the same session, Medicare pays the highest-valued procedure in full and applies the standard 50% reduction to the others.

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 51600PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,042 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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