CPT code 53601: Urethral dilation, male, subsequent2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in South Carolina

Reports a subsequent session of urethral stricture dilation in a male patient using sounds or urethral dilators to widen the narrowed passage.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality2.3K Medicare services in 2024

In South Carolina, Medicare pays $84.85 for 53601 in the office and $46.27 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$84.85Office (non-facility)
$46.27Hospital or facility
−5.2%vs the national office rate ($89.51)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 53601 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 53601 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in South Carolina
  2. What 53601 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 53601 covers

A urologist typically reports this service when dilating a male patient’s urethral stricture during a subsequent treatment session. The clinician passes sounds or urethral dilators through the urethra to widen a narrowed segment, often to address obstructive urinary symptoms related to scar tissue. The service may be performed in an office or facility setting.

Select this code for the subsequent service in the male stricture-dilation family, rather than the family’s initial-service code. Documentation should identify the stricture, the dilation performed, and why this is a subsequent service. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. 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. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted, 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 South Carolina compares for 53601

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 53601 runs from $80.04 in Arkansas to $114.80 in San Benito County, CA. South Carolina pays $84.85. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

53601 in South Carolina vs other payment areas
  1. South Carolina · this page$84.85
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$99.26+$14.41
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$101.21+$16.36
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$97.83+$12.98
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$95.20+$10.35
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$102.57+$17.72
  7. Alaska · Alaska$107.22+$22.37

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

Every other payment area

53601 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$81.09$44.56
ArkansasArkansas$80.04$44.17
ArizonaArizona$87.28$46.82
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$93.69$47.93
Chico, CACalifornia$93.33$47.57
El Centro, CACalifornia$93.35$47.59
Fresno, CACalifornia$93.33$47.57
Hanford, CACalifornia$93.33$47.57

53601 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.

$80.04

$107.22

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

View every state and territory as a table
53601 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$107.221
AL$81.091
AR$80.041
AZ$87.281
CA$93.33–$114.8029
CO$92.441
CT$95.111
DC$101.211
DE$88.631
FL$89.18–$97.833
GA$84.51–$91.272
GU$95.151
HI$95.151
IA$82.561
ID$83.131
IL$87.12–$95.204
IN$83.551
KS$82.401
KY$83.241
LA$83.20–$86.912
MA$92.05–$100.762
MD$90.15–$101.213
ME$83.72–$87.552
MI$85.38–$90.392
MN$88.241
MO$82.04–$86.963
MS$81.041
MT$89.511
NC$84.491
ND$87.131
NE$82.911
NH$91.201
NJ$96.10–$100.362
NM$85.881
NV$88.901
NY$85.65–$105.105
OH$84.901
OK$82.901
OR$88.11–$94.932
PA$84.91–$93.062
PR$90.041
RI$91.451
SC$84.851
SD$86.851
TN$82.801
TX$84.42–$92.228
UT$85.901
VA$87.43–$101.212
VI$90.041
VT$87.001
WA$91.81–$102.522
WI$84.501
WV$84.241
WY$88.471

See 53601 in every payment locality

How the 53601 rate is calculated

Each of 53601’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 · 53601

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.96

0.96 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense1.60

1.60 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.12

0.12 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

2.6800

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$89.51

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

The exact South Carolina inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

6,220

Code
53601
Physician work
0.96
Practice expense
1.60
Malpractice
0.12

GPCI2026.csv

93

Locality
South Carolina
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.924
Malpractice
0.850
Office calculation for 53601 in South Carolina
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.96× 1.0000.9600
Practice expense1.60× 0.9241.4784
Malpractice0.12× 0.8500.1020
Total RVUs2.5404
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, South Carolina$84.85

Office: (0.96 × 1 + 1.6 × 0.924 + 0.12 × 0.85) × $33.4009 = $84.85

Facility: (0.96 × 1 + 0.35 × 0.924 + 0.12 × 0.85) × $33.4009 = $46.27

Open 53601 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 53601

The CMS indicators that decide how 53601 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 53601

Urethral dilation, male, subsequent

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

53601 without 51 · national office

$89.51

Urethral dilation, male, subsequent

53601-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$44.76

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 53601 has changed in South Carolina

53601 · Office / nonfacility

$84.85

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $6.01 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $78.84 to $84.85 (7.6%).

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

    $78.84changed to$84.85

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.98 changed to 0.96
    • Practice expense RVU 1.48 changed to 1.60
    • Malpractice RVU 0.13 changed to 0.12
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.913 changed to 0.924
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.817 changed to 0.850

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $80.86changed to$78.84

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Malpractice RVU 0.12 changed to 0.13

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $79.54changed to$80.86

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $80.59changed to$79.54

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 1.44 changed to 1.48
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.908 changed to 0.913
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.756 changed to 0.817
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $80.62changed to$80.59

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 1.41 changed to 1.44
    • Malpractice RVU 0.11 changed to 0.12
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.903 changed to 0.908
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.695 changed to 0.756

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $81.14changed to$80.62

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 1.39 changed to 1.41
    • Malpractice RVU 0.13 changed to 0.11

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $77.78changed to$81.14

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 1.22 changed to 1.39
    • Malpractice RVU 0.11 changed to 0.13
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.907 changed to 0.903
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.624 changed to 0.695

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $76.95changed to$77.78

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 1.20 changed to 1.22
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.912 changed to 0.907
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.553 changed to 0.624

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $78.51changed to$76.95

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 1.25 changed to 1.20

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $77.93changed to$78.51

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 1.23 changed to 1.25
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.634 changed to 0.553

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $77.41changed to$77.93

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 1.21 changed to 1.23
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.715 changed to 0.634

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $77.69changed to$77.41

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $77.31changed to$77.69

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $76.04changed to$77.31

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 1.20 changed to 1.21
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.11
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.911 changed to 0.912
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.618 changed to 0.715

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $74.65changed to$76.04

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 1.29 changed to 1.20
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.909 changed to 0.911
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.520 changed to 0.618

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $74.65

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$84.85$46.27RVU26D
2026-07-01$84.85$46.27RVU26C
2026-04-01$84.85$46.27RVU26B
2026-01-01$84.85$46.27RVU26A
2025-10-01$78.84$49.61RVU25D
2025-07-01$78.84$49.61RVU25C
2025-04-01$78.84$49.61RVU25B
2025-01-01$78.84$49.61RVU25A
2024-10-01$80.86$50.47RVU24D
2024-07-01$80.86$50.47RVU24C
2024-04-01$80.86$50.47RVU24B
2024-03-09$80.86$50.47RVU24AR
2024-01-01$79.54$49.65RVU24A
2023-10-01$80.59$50.75RVU23D
2023-07-01$80.59$50.75RVU23C
2023-04-01$80.59$50.75RVU23B
2023-01-01$80.59$50.75RVU23A
2022-10-01$80.62$50.62RVU22D
2022-07-01$80.62$50.62RVU22C
2022-04-01$80.62$50.62RVU22B
2022-01-01$80.62$50.62RVU22A
2021-10-01$81.14$51.53RVU21D
2021-07-01$81.14$51.53RVU21C
2021-04-01$81.14$51.53RVU21B
2021-01-01$81.14$51.53RVU21A
2020-10-01$77.78$52.57RVU20D
2020-07-01$77.78$52.57RVU20C
2020-04-01$77.78$52.57RVU20B
2020-01-01$77.78$52.57RVU20A
2019-10-01$76.95$52.63RVU19D
2019-07-01$76.95$52.63RVU19C
2019-04-01$76.95$52.63RVU19B
2019-01-01$76.95$52.63RVU19A
2018-10-01$78.51$52.90RVU18D
2018-07-01$78.51$52.90RVU18C
2018-04-01$78.51$52.90RVU18B
2018-01-01$78.51$52.90RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$77.93$52.73RVU17D
2017-07-01$77.93$52.73RVU17C
2017-04-01$77.93$52.73RVU17B
2017-01-01$77.93$52.73RVU17A
2016-10-01$77.41$52.60RVU16D
2016-07-01$77.41$52.60RVU16C
2016-04-01$77.41$52.60RVU16B
2016-01-01$77.41$52.60RVU16A
2015-10-01$77.69$52.79RVU15D
2015-07-01$77.69$52.79RVU15C
2015-04-01$77.31$52.53RVU15B
2015-01-01$77.31$52.53RVU15A
2014-10-01$76.04$51.56RVU14D
2014-07-01$76.04$51.56RVU14C
2014-04-01$76.04$51.56RVU14B
2014-01-01$76.04$51.56RVU14A
2013-10-01$74.65$49.29RVU13D
2013-07-01$74.65$49.29RVU13C
2013-04-01$74.65$49.29RVU13B
2013-01-01$74.65$49.29RVU13AR

Price 53601 for an earlier date of service

Where the South Carolina rate applies

South Carolina is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 475 cities and communities in South Carolina. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Abbeville
  • Abney Crossroads
  • Adams Run
  • Aiken
  • Alcolu
  • Allendale
  • Anderson
  • Andrews

Browse all communities in South Carolina

53601 billing questions

When should 53601 be chosen instead of 53600?

Use 53601 for the subsequent male urethral stricture dilation service; 53600 represents the initial service in this code family. Documentation should support the service’s place in the treatment sequence.

How does 53601 differ from 53605?

53601 identifies a subsequent male stricture dilation using sounds or a urethral dilator. Code 53605 is the related male code for dilation requiring a guide wire.

Is same-day preoperative or postoperative care separately included?

The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care in the procedure payment.

Can modifier 50 be reported?

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

How are other procedures in the same session paid?

Under the standard multiple-procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the other procedures are paid at 50% when performed in the same session.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery payment is subject to a statutory restriction. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted for this code.

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 53601PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,220 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for South CarolinaGPCI2026.csv, line 93 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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