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CPT code 53600: Urethral dilation, male, initial2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Reports initial dilation of a male urethral stricture by passage of a sound or dilator to widen the narrowed urethral segment.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality2.7K Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $102.20 for 53600 in the office and $60.89 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$102.20Office (non-facility)
$60.89Hospital or facility
+12.1%vs the national office rate ($91.18)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 53600 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 53600 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 53600 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 53600 covers

A urologist typically reports this service when treating a male urethral stricture by passing a sound or urethral dilator through the narrowed segment to enlarge it. The procedure may be performed in an office or facility setting. The code identifies an initial dilation, rather than a later dilation in the same treatment course or a complicated initial service.

Documentation should establish the stricture, the patient’s sex, the initial nature of the dilation, and the instrumentation and treatment performed. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same 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 an assistant at surgery for this service, 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 53600

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 53600 runs from $82.16 in Arkansas to $113.86 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $102.20. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

53600 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$102.20
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$99.67−$2.53
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$100.76−$1.44
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$98.18−$4.02
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$104.22+$2.02
  6. Alaska · Alaska$111.68+$9.48
  7. Alabama · Alabama$83.16−$19.04

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

Every other payment area

53600 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$82.16$52.04
ArizonaArizona$89.01$55.03
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$94.46$56.03
Chico, CACalifornia$94.02$55.58
El Centro, CACalifornia$94.04$55.61
Fresno, CACalifornia$94.02$55.58
Hanford, CACalifornia$94.02$55.58
Madera, CACalifornia$94.02$55.58

53600 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.

$82.16

$111.68

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

View every state and territory as a table
53600 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$111.681
AL$83.161
AR$82.161
AZ$89.011
CA$94.02–$113.8629
CO$93.551
CT$96.631
DC$102.201
DE$90.311
FL$91.65–$100.763
GA$87.10–$93.062
GU$95.481
HI$95.481
IA$84.191
ID$84.801
IL$89.94–$98.184
IN$85.201
KS$84.211
KY$85.571
LA$85.60–$89.112
MA$93.28–$101.322
MD$91.73–$102.203
ME$85.55–$88.912
MI$87.76–$92.982
MN$89.011
MO$84.60–$88.953
MS$83.381
MT$91.171
NC$86.241
ND$88.211
NE$84.471
NH$92.481
NJ$97.55–$101.492
NM$88.311
NV$90.391
NY$87.36–$106.845
OH$87.161
OK$85.061
OR$89.51–$95.722
PA$87.07–$94.782
PR$91.621
RI$92.941
SC$86.881
SD$87.861
TN$84.611
TX$86.62–$93.408
UT$87.871
VA$88.92–$102.202
VI$91.621
VT$88.241
WA$92.98–$102.852
WI$85.751
WV$87.221
WY$89.881

See 53600 in every payment locality

How the 53600 rate is calculated

Each of 53600’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 · 53600

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.18

1.18 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense1.40

1.40 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.15

0.15 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

2.7300

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$91.18

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

6,219

Code
53600
Physician work
1.18
Practice expense
1.40
Malpractice
0.15

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 53600 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.18× 1.0541.2437
Practice expense1.40× 1.1781.6492
Malpractice0.15× 1.1130.1669
Total RVUs3.0599
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$102.20

Office: (1.18 × 1.054 + 1.4 × 1.178 + 0.15 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $102.20

Facility: (1.18 × 1.054 + 0.35 × 1.178 + 0.15 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $60.89

Open 53600 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 53600

The CMS indicators that decide how 53600 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 53600

Urethral dilation, male, initial

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

53600 without 51 · national office

$91.18

Urethral dilation, male, initial

53600-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$45.59

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 53600

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

Codes related to 53600
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Same family
53601Urethral dilation, male, subsequentSubsequent male urethral stricture dilation in the same treatment series.$101.21
53605Urethral dilation, complicated male strictureComplicated initial male urethral stricture dilation.No office rate
53620Urethral dilation, female, initialInitial urethral stricture dilation for a female patient.$197.62

How 53600 has changed in Washington, DC area

53600 · Office / nonfacility

$102.20

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $4.66 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $97.54 to $102.20 (4.8%).

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

    $97.54changed to$102.20

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.21 changed to 1.18
    • Practice expense RVU 1.30 changed to 1.40
    • Malpractice RVU 0.16 changed to 0.15
    • 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

    $99.99changed to$97.54

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Malpractice RVU 0.15 changed to 0.16

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $98.36changed to$99.99

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $102.64changed to$98.36

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 1.27 changed to 1.30
    • Malpractice RVU 0.17 changed to 0.15
    • 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

    $104.30changed to$102.64

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 1.26 changed to 1.27
    • Malpractice RVU 0.14 changed to 0.17
    • 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

    $104.30changed to$104.30

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 1.24 changed to 1.26

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $99.83changed to$104.30

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 1.09 changed to 1.24
    • Malpractice RVU 0.13 changed to 0.14
    • 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

    $97.08changed to$99.83

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 1.05 changed to 1.09
    • 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

    $96.97changed to$97.08

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $96.42changed to$96.97

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 1.04 changed to 1.05
    • 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

    $95.93changed to$96.42

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 1.03 changed to 1.04
    • 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

    $96.30changed to$95.93

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 1.02 changed to 1.03
    • Malpractice RVU 0.14 changed to 0.13

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $95.82changed to$96.30

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $94.18changed to$95.82

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Malpractice RVU 0.11 changed to 0.14
    • 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

    $91.84changed to$94.18

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 1.09 changed to 1.02
    • 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: $91.84

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$102.20$60.89RVU26D
2026-07-01$102.20$60.89RVU26C
2026-04-01$102.20$60.89RVU26B
2026-01-01$102.20$60.89RVU26A
2025-10-01$97.54$68.24RVU25D
2025-07-01$97.54$68.24RVU25C
2025-04-01$97.54$68.24RVU25B
2025-01-01$97.54$68.24RVU25A
2024-10-01$99.99$69.04RVU24D
2024-07-01$99.99$69.04RVU24C
2024-04-01$99.99$69.04RVU24B
2024-03-09$99.99$69.04RVU24AR
2024-01-01$98.36$67.91RVU24A
2023-10-01$102.64$71.37RVU23D
2023-07-01$102.64$71.37RVU23C
2023-04-01$102.64$71.37RVU23B
2023-01-01$102.64$71.37RVU23A
2022-10-01$104.30$71.36RVU22D
2022-07-01$104.30$71.36RVU22C
2022-04-01$104.30$71.36RVU22B
2022-01-01$104.30$71.36RVU22A
2021-10-01$104.30$72.39RVU21D
2021-07-01$104.30$72.39RVU21C
2021-04-01$104.30$72.39RVU21B
2021-01-01$104.30$72.39RVU21A
2020-10-01$99.83$73.39RVU20D
2020-07-01$99.83$73.39RVU20C
2020-04-01$99.83$73.39RVU20B
2020-01-01$99.83$73.39RVU20A
2019-10-01$97.08$73.19RVU19D
2019-07-01$97.08$73.19RVU19C
2019-04-01$97.08$73.19RVU19B
2019-01-01$97.08$73.19RVU19A
2018-10-01$96.97$73.54RVU18D
2018-07-01$96.97$73.54RVU18C
2018-04-01$96.97$73.54RVU18B
2018-01-01$96.97$73.54RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$96.42$73.06RVU17D
2017-07-01$96.42$73.06RVU17C
2017-04-01$96.42$73.06RVU17B
2017-01-01$96.42$73.06RVU17A
2016-10-01$95.93$72.63RVU16D
2016-07-01$95.93$72.63RVU16C
2016-04-01$95.93$72.63RVU16B
2016-01-01$95.93$72.63RVU16A
2015-10-01$96.30$73.35RVU15D
2015-07-01$96.30$73.35RVU15C
2015-04-01$95.82$72.99RVU15B
2015-01-01$95.82$72.99RVU15A
2014-10-01$94.18$71.36RVU14D
2014-07-01$94.18$71.36RVU14C
2014-04-01$94.18$71.36RVU14B
2014-01-01$94.18$71.36RVU14A
2013-10-01$91.84$68.20RVU13D
2013-07-01$91.84$68.20RVU13C
2013-04-01$91.84$68.20RVU13B
2013-01-01$91.84$68.20RVU13AR

Price 53600 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

53600 billing questions

When should 53600 be chosen instead of 53601?

Use 53600 for the initial male urethral stricture dilation in the treatment course. Code 53601 is for a subsequent dilation.

How does 53600 differ from 53605?

Both describe initial male urethral stricture dilation, but 53605 is for a complicated initial service. Use 53600 for the non-complicated initial service.

Can modifier 50 be reported?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code; modifier 50 should not be used.

Is same-day evaluation or postoperative care separately included in the global period?

The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care.

Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be billed?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service, and 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 53600PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,219 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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