CPT code 51798: Bladder scan, post-void residual or bladder capacity2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in South Dakota

A non-imaging ultrasound bladder scan measures post-void residual urine or assesses bladder capacity when a documented volume measurement is needed.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality1.9M Medicare services in 2024

In South Dakota, Medicare pays $12.25 for 51798 in the office.

$12.25Office (non-facility)
Not available in this settingHospital or facility
−3.5%vs the national office rate ($12.69)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 51798 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 51798 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in South Dakota
  2. What 51798 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 51798 covers

This service uses a non-imaging ultrasound scanner placed on the lower abdomen to estimate urine volume in the bladder. It is commonly performed just after a patient voids to measure post-void residual urine. A full-bladder measurement may be used when bladder capacity is being assessed; a pre-void reading alone does not establish capacity. Medical assistants, nurses, and technicians perform scans in urology, gynecology, primary care, and skilled nursing settings. Common reasons include suspected urinary retention, benign prostatic hyperplasia, incontinence, neurogenic bladder, and postoperative voiding complaints.

Report the scan when the record supports the clinical reason and documents the measured volume and whether the reading was obtained before or after voiding. CMS classifies 51798 as a technical-component-only code: its payment accounts for the scanning resources, while a separate code covers interpretation when separately reportable. Do not split 51798 with modifiers 26 or TC. An ultrasound examination that produces diagnostic images is a different service from this non-imaging volume measurement.

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 South Dakota compares for 51798

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 51798 runs from $10.67 in Arkansas to $17.70 in San Benito County, CA. South Dakota pays $12.25. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

51798 in South Dakota vs other payment areas
  1. South Dakota · this page$12.25
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$14.67+$2.42
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$14.91+$2.66
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$14.21+$1.96
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$13.62+$1.37
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$15.03+$2.78
  7. Alaska · Alaska$13.17+$0.92

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

Every other payment area

51798 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$10.90—
ArkansasArkansas$10.67—
ArizonaArizona$12.22—
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$13.59—
Chico, CACalifornia$13.54—
El Centro, CACalifornia$13.54—
Fresno, CACalifornia$13.54—
Hanford, CACalifornia$13.54—

51798 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.

$10.67

$15.62

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

View every state and territory as a table
51798 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$13.171
AL$10.901
AR$10.671
AZ$12.221
CA$13.54–$17.7029
CO$13.321
CT$13.761
DC$14.911
DE$12.481
FL$12.50–$14.213
GA$11.52–$13.022
GU$14.061
HI$14.061
IA$11.271
ID$11.381
IL$12.02–$13.624
IN$11.471
KS$11.211
KY$11.301
LA$11.28–$12.072
MA$13.19–$14.952
MD$12.78–$14.913
ME$11.48–$12.342
MI$11.73–$12.732
MN$12.571
MO$11.02–$12.123
MS$10.851
MT$12.691
NC$11.651
ND$12.301
NE$11.351
NH$13.101
NJ$13.86–$14.662
NM$11.831
NV$12.591
NY$11.89–$15.545
OH$11.651
OK$11.261
OR$12.45–$13.862
PA$11.67–$13.312
PR$12.811
RI$13.021
SC$11.681
SD$12.251
TN$11.291
TX$11.56–$13.318
UT$11.901
VA$12.29–$14.912
VI$12.811
VT$12.241
WA$13.17–$15.302
WI$11.731
WV$11.411
WY$12.521

See 51798 in every payment locality

How the 51798 rate is calculated

Each of 51798’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 · 51798

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.36

0.36 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.02

0.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

0.3800

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$12.69

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

The exact South Dakota inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

6,087

Code
51798
Physician work
0.00
Practice expense
0.36
Malpractice
0.02

GPCI2026.csv

94

Locality
South Dakota
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
1.000
Malpractice
0.336
Office calculation for 51798 in South Dakota
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.00× 1.0000.0000
Practice expense0.36× 1.0000.3600
Malpractice0.02× 0.3360.0067
Total RVUs0.3667
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, South Dakota$12.25

Office: (0 × 1 + 0.36 × 1 + 0.02 × 0.336) × $33.4009 = $12.25

Open 51798 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 51798

The CMS indicators that decide how 51798 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 51798

Bladder scan, post-void residual or bladder capacity

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical3Technical component only.

How 51798 has changed in South Dakota

51798 · Office / nonfacility

$12.25

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $1.33 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $10.92 to $12.25 (12.2%).

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

    $10.92changed to$12.25

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Practice expense RVU 0.33 changed to 0.36
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.382 changed to 0.336

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $11.11changed to$10.92

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Malpractice RVU 0.01 changed to 0.02

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $10.93changed to$11.11

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $10.63changed to$10.93

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 0.31 changed to 0.33
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.364 changed to 0.382
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $10.50changed to$10.63

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 0.30 changed to 0.31
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.347 changed to 0.364

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $10.24changed to$10.50

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 0.29 changed to 0.30

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $10.24changed to$10.24

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 0.28 changed to 0.29
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.368 changed to 0.347

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $12.75changed to$10.24

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 0.35 changed to 0.28
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.389 changed to 0.368

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $15.98changed to$12.75

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 0.44 changed to 0.35

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $19.30changed to$15.98

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 0.53 changed to 0.44
    • Malpractice RVU 0.02 changed to 0.01
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.395 changed to 0.389

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $18.90changed to$19.30

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 0.52 changed to 0.53
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.400 changed to 0.395

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $18.83changed to$18.90

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Malpractice RVU 0.01 changed to 0.02

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $18.74changed to$18.83

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $18.78changed to$18.74

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.416 changed to 0.400

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $19.54changed to$18.78

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 0.57 changed to 0.52
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.432 changed to 0.416

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $19.54

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$12.25Not available in this settingRVU26D
2026-07-01$12.25Not available in this settingRVU26C
2026-04-01$12.25Not available in this settingRVU26B
2026-01-01$12.25Not available in this settingRVU26A
2025-10-01$10.92Not available in this settingRVU25D
2025-07-01$10.92Not available in this settingRVU25C
2025-04-01$10.92Not available in this settingRVU25B
2025-01-01$10.92Not available in this settingRVU25A
2024-10-01$11.11Not available in this settingRVU24D
2024-07-01$11.11Not available in this settingRVU24C
2024-04-01$11.11Not available in this settingRVU24B
2024-03-09$11.11Not available in this settingRVU24AR
2024-01-01$10.93Not available in this settingRVU24A
2023-10-01$10.63Not available in this settingRVU23D
2023-07-01$10.63Not available in this settingRVU23C
2023-04-01$10.63Not available in this settingRVU23B
2023-01-01$10.63Not available in this settingRVU23A
2022-10-01$10.50Not available in this settingRVU22D
2022-07-01$10.50Not available in this settingRVU22C
2022-04-01$10.50Not available in this settingRVU22B
2022-01-01$10.50Not available in this settingRVU22A
2021-10-01$10.24Not available in this settingRVU21D
2021-07-01$10.24Not available in this settingRVU21C
2021-04-01$10.24Not available in this settingRVU21B
2021-01-01$10.24Not available in this settingRVU21A
2020-10-01$10.24Not available in this settingRVU20D
2020-07-01$10.24Not available in this settingRVU20C
2020-04-01$10.24Not available in this settingRVU20B
2020-01-01$10.24Not available in this settingRVU20A
2019-10-01$12.75Not available in this settingRVU19D
2019-07-01$12.75Not available in this settingRVU19C
2019-04-01$12.75Not available in this settingRVU19B
2019-01-01$12.75Not available in this settingRVU19A
2018-10-01$15.98Not available in this settingRVU18D
2018-07-01$15.98Not available in this settingRVU18C
2018-04-01$15.98Not available in this settingRVU18B
2018-01-01$15.98Not available in this settingRVU18AR1
2017-10-01$19.30Not available in this settingRVU17D
2017-07-01$19.30Not available in this settingRVU17C
2017-04-01$19.30Not available in this settingRVU17B
2017-01-01$19.30Not available in this settingRVU17A
2016-10-01$18.90Not available in this settingRVU16D
2016-07-01$18.90Not available in this settingRVU16C
2016-04-01$18.90Not available in this settingRVU16B
2016-01-01$18.90Not available in this settingRVU16A
2015-10-01$18.83Not available in this settingRVU15D
2015-07-01$18.83Not available in this settingRVU15C
2015-04-01$18.74Not available in this settingRVU15B
2015-01-01$18.74Not available in this settingRVU15A
2014-10-01$18.78Not available in this settingRVU14D
2014-07-01$18.78Not available in this settingRVU14C
2014-04-01$18.78Not available in this settingRVU14B
2014-01-01$18.78Not available in this settingRVU14A
2013-10-01$19.54Not available in this settingRVU13D
2013-07-01$19.54Not available in this settingRVU13C
2013-04-01$19.54Not available in this settingRVU13B
2013-01-01$19.54Not available in this settingRVU13AR

Price 51798 for an earlier date of service

Where the South Dakota rate applies

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

  • Aberdeen
  • Agar
  • Agency Village
  • Akaska
  • Albee
  • Alcester
  • Alexandria
  • Allen

Browse all communities in South Dakota

51798 billing questions

Can this be billed when a diagnostic ultrasound examination produces images?

51798 describes a non-imaging volume measurement. When the service instead includes diagnostic images and an interpretation, select the appropriate imaging ultrasound code, such as 76857 for a limited pelvic examination.

Can modifier 26 or TC be appended?

No. CMS classifies 51798 as technical-component-only rather than a code split into professional and technical portions. A separate code covers interpretation when it is separately reportable.

Can a bladder scan be reported with an office visit on the same day?

A medically necessary E/M visit may be reported with a distinct, medically necessary bladder volume measurement when the record supports both services.

Can straight catheterization and a bladder scan both be billed for residual urine?

If catheterization alone is used to measure residual urine, do not also report a scan. A scan followed by separately necessary catheterization to drain retained urine may support reporting both documented services.

What documentation supports the bladder scan?

Record the measured volume, whether the reading was obtained before or after voiding, and the reason for testing, such as suspected retention or incomplete emptying.

How is a bladder scan reported with a uroflow study?

A patient may void into a uroflowmeter and then have a bladder scan for residual urine. Report both when each distinct measurement is medically necessary and documented.

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 51798PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,087 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for South DakotaGPCI2026.csv, line 94 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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