CPT code 52332: Ureteral stent, indwelling stent placement2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $372.75 for 52332 nationally in the office and $139.62 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $329.01–$496.12.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 52332 covers

A urologist places an indwelling stent through the urethra and bladder, advancing it into the ureter so urine can drain from the kidney to the bladder. The stent may be used when a ureter is obstructed or swollen, or after endoscopic treatment of a ureteral or renal stone. The service is commonly performed in a hospital outpatient department or ambulatory surgery center; office use is less frequent.

Report 52332 when the documented service includes placement of the indwelling stent, not merely cystoscopic inspection or stent removal. The operative note should identify the side, reason for placement, and placement details. When a related endoscopy is performed in the same session, CMS endoscopy-family pricing applies. For bilateral placement, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. The code has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. 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.

Where 52332 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

52332 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

How the 52332 rate is calculated

Each of 52332’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 52332

The CMS indicators that decide how 52332 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 50

52332 compared with similar codes

How to choose

52352UreteroscopyStone removal or manipulation

Use 52352 for ureteroscopic stone removal without lithotripsy. Add 52332 only when a distinct indwelling stent is placed during the session.

52353Stone lithotripsyUreteroscopy or pyeloscopy

52353 reports ureteroscopic or renal stone lithotripsy. A distinct stent placement may be reported separately, while 52356 represents lithotripsy with stent placement included.

52310Cystoscopic removalSimple urethral or bladder removal

52310 describes cystoscopic removal of a stent or other foreign body; 52332 is for placing an indwelling ureteral stent.

Codes related to 52332

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

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates