CPT code 51720: Bladder instillation, antineoplastic agent2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Tennessee

Report this service when a clinician delivers an antineoplastic agent into the bladder through a catheter for intravesical treatment, such as BCG therapy.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality159.2K Medicare services in 2024

In Tennessee, Medicare pays $84.71 for 51720 in the office and $35.83 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$84.71Office (non-facility)
$35.83Hospital or facility
−7.8%vs the national office rate ($91.85)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 51720 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 51720 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Tennessee
  2. What 51720 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 51720 covers

A urologist or other qualified clinician places a catheter and delivers an antineoplastic agent into the bladder, commonly in an office or outpatient setting. Intravesical BCG and chemotherapy are typical treatments for bladder cancer, including treatment after tumor resection or for carcinoma in situ. The service covers the drug’s delivery and retention in the bladder; it is distinct from endoscopic biopsy, lesion destruction, or simple bladder irrigation.

Select 51720 for the therapeutic instillation, not for catheter placement alone. Document the agent and administration details, including the retention instructions when available. The drug may be reported separately with the applicable drug code; catheter placement integral to the instillation is not separately reported as 51701. The 0-day global includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% 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 Tennessee compares for 51720

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 51720 runs from $81.64 in Arkansas to $119.70 in San Benito County, CA. Tennessee pays $84.71. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

51720 in Tennessee vs other payment areas
  1. Tennessee · this page$84.71
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$102.72+$18.01
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$104.44+$19.73
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$99.92+$15.21
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$97.11+$12.40
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$105.51+$20.80
  7. Alaska · Alaska$108.28+$23.57

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

Every other payment area

51720 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$82.78$35.73
ArkansasArkansas$81.64$35.45
ArizonaArizona$89.47$37.36
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$96.69$37.76
Chico, CACalifornia$96.37$37.43
El Centro, CACalifornia$96.39$37.45
Fresno, CACalifornia$96.37$37.43
Hanford, CACalifornia$96.37$37.43

51720 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.

$81.64

$108.28

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

View every state and territory as a table
51720 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$108.281
AL$82.781
AR$81.641
AZ$89.471
CA$96.37–$119.7029
CO$95.211
CT$97.801
DC$104.441
DE$90.911
FL$91.07–$99.923
GA$86.10–$93.632
GU$98.501
HI$98.501
IA$84.561
ID$85.131
IL$88.72–$97.114
IN$85.601
KS$84.291
KY$84.901
LA$84.82–$88.822
MA$94.73–$104.212
MD$92.55–$104.443
ME$85.68–$89.962
MI$87.12–$92.282
MN$91.001
MO$83.51–$88.993
MS$82.581
MT$91.851
NC$86.521
ND$89.671
NE$84.961
NH$93.841
NJ$98.84–$103.462
NM$87.631
NV$91.301
NY$87.77–$108.125
OH$86.681
OK$84.641
OR$90.52–$98.002
PA$86.75–$95.522
PR$92.461
RI$93.971
SC$86.761
SD$89.411
TN$84.711
TX$86.21–$94.968
UT$87.891
VA$89.76–$104.442
VI$92.461
VT$89.441
WA$94.51–$106.172
WI$86.801
WV$85.601
WY$90.901

See 51720 in every payment locality

How the 51720 rate is calculated

Each of 51720’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 · 51720

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.85

0.85 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense1.79

1.79 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.11

0.11 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

2.7500

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$91.85

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

The exact Tennessee inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

6,052

Code
51720
Physician work
0.85
Practice expense
1.79
Malpractice
0.11

GPCI2026.csv

95

Locality
Tennessee
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.909
Malpractice
0.537
Office calculation for 51720 in Tennessee
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.85× 1.0000.8500
Practice expense1.79× 0.9091.6271
Malpractice0.11× 0.5370.0591
Total RVUs2.5362
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Tennessee$84.71

Office: (0.85 × 1 + 1.79 × 0.909 + 0.11 × 0.537) × $33.4009 = $84.71

Facility: (0.85 × 1 + 0.18 × 0.909 + 0.11 × 0.537) × $33.4009 = $35.83

Open 51720 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 51720

The CMS indicators that decide how 51720 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 51720

Bladder instillation, antineoplastic agent

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

51720 without 51 · national office

$91.85

Bladder instillation, antineoplastic agent

51720-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$45.93

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 51720 has changed in Tennessee

51720 · Office / nonfacility

$84.71

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $5.77 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $78.94 to $84.71 (7.3%).

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

    $78.94changed to$84.71

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.87 changed to 0.85
    • Practice expense RVU 1.68 changed to 1.79
    • Malpractice RVU 0.12 changed to 0.11
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.896 changed to 0.909
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.544 changed to 0.537

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $81.06changed to$78.94

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Malpractice RVU 0.11 changed to 0.12

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $79.74changed to$81.06

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $81.10changed to$79.74

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 1.64 changed to 1.68
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.894 changed to 0.896
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.518 changed to 0.544
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $81.82changed to$81.10

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 1.62 changed to 1.64
    • Malpractice RVU 0.10 changed to 0.11
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.892 changed to 0.894
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.492 changed to 0.518

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $83.12changed to$81.82

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 1.64 changed to 1.62

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $79.02changed to$83.12

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 1.42 changed to 1.64
    • Malpractice RVU 0.09 changed to 0.10
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.897 changed to 0.892
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.509 changed to 0.492

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $79.82changed to$79.02

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 1.44 changed to 1.42
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.901 changed to 0.897
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.526 changed to 0.509

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $80.06changed to$79.82

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 1.45 changed to 1.44

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. April 1, 2018

    RVU18B

    No ratechanged to$80.06

    Held through RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D, RVU14A, RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D, RVU15A, RVU15B, RVU15C, RVU15D, RVU16A, RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D, RVU17A, RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D, RVU18AR1.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$84.71$35.83RVU26D
2026-07-01$84.71$35.83RVU26C
2026-04-01$84.71$35.83RVU26B
2026-01-01$84.71$35.83RVU26A
2025-10-01$78.94$39.53RVU25D
2025-07-01$78.94$39.53RVU25C
2025-04-01$78.94$39.53RVU25B
2025-01-01$78.94$39.53RVU25A
2024-10-01$81.06$40.20RVU24D
2024-07-01$81.06$40.20RVU24C
2024-04-01$81.06$40.20RVU24B
2024-03-09$81.06$40.20RVU24AR
2024-01-01$79.74$39.54RVU24A
2023-10-01$81.10$40.80RVU23D
2023-07-01$81.10$40.80RVU23C
2023-04-01$81.10$40.80RVU23B
2023-01-01$81.10$40.80RVU23A
2022-10-01$81.82$41.07RVU22D
2022-07-01$81.82$41.07RVU22C
2022-04-01$81.82$41.07RVU22B
2022-01-01$81.82$41.07RVU22A
2021-10-01$83.12$41.41RVU21D
2021-07-01$83.12$41.41RVU21C
2021-04-01$83.12$41.41RVU21B
2021-01-01$83.12$41.41RVU21A
2020-10-01$79.02$42.76RVU20D
2020-07-01$79.02$42.76RVU20C
2020-04-01$79.02$42.76RVU20B
2020-01-01$79.02$42.76RVU20A
2019-10-01$79.82$43.13RVU19D
2019-07-01$79.82$43.13RVU19C
2019-04-01$79.82$43.13RVU19B
2019-01-01$79.82$43.13RVU19A
2018-10-01$80.06$50.86RVU18D
2018-07-01$80.06$50.86RVU18C
2018-04-01$80.06$50.86RVU18B
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
2015-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15D
2015-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15C
2015-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15B
2015-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15A
2014-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14D
2014-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14C
2014-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14B
2014-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14A
2013-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price 51720 for an earlier date of service

Where the Tennessee rate applies

Tennessee is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 504 cities and communities in Tennessee. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Adams
  • Adamsville
  • Alamo
  • Alcoa
  • Alexandria
  • Algood
  • Allardt
  • Altamont

Browse all communities in Tennessee

51720 billing questions

How is 51720 different from bladder irrigation or catheter insertion?

51720 represents therapeutic delivery of an antineoplastic agent into the bladder. Irrigation alone or catheter placement without that treatment does not meet the service; do not separately report 51701 for catheter placement integral to the instillation.

Can the drug be billed separately?

The drug may be reported separately with its applicable HCPCS drug code when the drug was supplied and billing requirements are met. 51720 represents the instillation service.

Should modifier 50 be appended for treatment of both sides?

No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this bladder service.

How does Medicare handle 51720 with another procedure in the same session?

The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures in that session are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included in the 0-day global period.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for 51720. 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 51720PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,052 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for TennesseeGPCI2026.csv, line 95 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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