Billing code 36482: Vein ablationMedicare rate & RVUs
Percutaneous catheter delivery of chemical adhesive closes the first incompetent extremity vein treated for symptomatic superficial venous reflux.
Medicare pays $1,657.35 for 36482 nationally in the office and $158.65 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $1,431.11–$2,329.39.
Medicare rate · 36482
Vein ablation
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 3.41
- Total RVUs
- 49.62
- Global days
- 000
National rate · 2026
$1,657.35
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 36482 → · Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
On this page 10 sections
What 36482 covers
Code 36482 represents percutaneous catheter-based closure of an incompetent extremity vein using a chemical adhesive, commonly cyanoacrylate, rather than heat or injected sclerosant. Vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists, and other appropriately trained physicians use it for symptomatic superficial venous reflux, often involving a saphenous vein, in office-based procedure rooms or hospital outpatient settings. Imaging guidance and monitoring during the ablation are included in the service.
Report 36482 for the first vein treated; code 36483 identifies each additional vein treated in the same session. The record should identify the treated vein and side, document the venous disease or reflux supporting intervention, and describe catheter delivery and closure. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others are reduced to 50%. For bilateral treatment, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery; 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 36482 pays more and less
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
109 payment localities
$1431.11 to $2329.39
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $1,456.68 | $145.32 |
| Alaska* | $1,801.75 | $205.64 |
| Arizona | $1,606.67 | $154.44 |
| Arkansas | $1,431.11 | $143.73 |
| Atlanta | $1,687.02 | $164.35 |
| Austin | $1,742.79 | $157.17 |
| Bakersfield | $1,795.49 | $152.92 |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $1,775.96 | $167.85 |
| Beaumont | $1,518.92 | $155.10 |
| Brazoria | $1,639.09 | $153.88 |
| Chicago | $1,698.18 | $191.99 |
| Chico | $1,793.43 | $150.86 |
| Colorado | $1,750.41 | $155.80 |
| Connecticut | $1,781.81 | $167.71 |
| Dallas | $1,648.75 | $156.04 |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $1,936.61 | $171.14 |
| Delaware | $1,637.17 | $156.46 |
| Detroit | $1,621.39 | $175.15 |
| East St. Louis | $1,561.28 | $182.48 |
| El Centro | $1,793.56 | $150.98 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $1,697.33 | $179.15 |
| Fort Worth | $1,633.89 | $156.17 |
| Fresno | $1,793.43 | $150.86 |
| Galveston | $1,643.33 | $155.12 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $1,793.43 | $150.86 |
| Hawaii, Guam | $1,854.83 | $150.81 |
| Houston | $1,657.05 | $168.85 |
| Idaho | $1,522.68 | $143.88 |
| Indiana | $1,533.63 | $144.34 |
| Iowa | $1,513.18 | $141.87 |
| Kansas | $1,499.16 | $144.34 |
| Kentucky | $1,486.68 | $154.34 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $1,931.47 | $158.51 |
| Madera | $1,793.43 | $150.86 |
| Manhattan | $1,925.30 | $183.82 |
| Merced | $1,793.43 | $150.86 |
| Metropolitan Boston | $1,953.84 | $164.39 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $1,564.15 | $156.88 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $1,726.49 | $166.35 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $1,584.52 | $157.76 |
| Miami | $1,757.91 | $197.76 |
| Minnesota | $1,683.75 | $141.59 |
| Mississippi | $1,439.76 | $149.38 |
| Modesto | $1,793.43 | $150.86 |
| Montana** | $1,657.30 | $158.60 |
| Napa | $2,135.06 | $159.77 |
| Nebraska | $1,524.85 | $141.56 |
| Nevada** | $1,654.69 | $154.49 |
| New Hampshire | $1,716.48 | $156.33 |
| New Mexico | $1,536.36 | $162.05 |
| New Orleans | $1,571.17 | $160.90 |
| North Carolina | $1,546.58 | $148.29 |
| North Dakota** | $1,642.47 | $143.77 |
| Northern Nj | $1,909.18 | $170.69 |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $1,973.09 | $191.14 |
| Ohio | $1,525.45 | $157.14 |
| Oklahoma | $1,489.30 | $150.96 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $1,927.45 | $155.99 |
| Portland | $1,821.30 | $156.25 |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $1,811.99 | $170.91 |
| Puerto Rico | $1,673.68 | $158.50 |
| Queens | $1,952.06 | $180.60 |
| Redding | $1,793.43 | $150.86 |
| Rest Of California | $1,793.43 | $150.86 |
| Rest Of Florida | $1,603.14 | $170.39 |
| Rest Of Georgia | $1,498.17 | $161.34 |
| Rest Of Illinois | $1,539.35 | $171.04 |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $1,481.68 | $155.34 |
| Rest Of Maine | $1,526.41 | $147.61 |
| Rest Of Maryland | $1,674.66 | $157.98 |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $1,734.57 | $156.44 |
| Rest Of Michigan | $1,528.48 | $160.17 |
| Rest Of Missouri | $1,447.16 | $155.28 |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $1,804.03 | $167.45 |
| Rest Of New York | $1,573.99 | $150.23 |
| Rest Of Oregon | $1,643.84 | $151.14 |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $1,531.47 | $155.66 |
| Rest Of Texas | $1,577.48 | $155.22 |
| Rest Of Washington | $1,733.32 | $155.19 |
| Rhode Island | $1,706.92 | $158.76 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $1,801.49 | $158.91 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $1,897.33 | $154.34 |
| Salinas | $1,890.69 | $153.69 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $1,946.90 | $154.46 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $2,277.17 | $164.00 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $2,276.31 | $163.15 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $2,329.39 | $168.27 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $2,325.91 | $164.79 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $1,858.72 | $151.71 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $1,974.58 | $153.66 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $1,900.97 | $153.49 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $1,995.34 | $154.94 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $2,003.14 | $164.24 |
| South Carolina | $1,538.20 | $153.40 |
| South Dakota** | $1,640.72 | $142.02 |
| Southern Maine | $1,634.44 | $149.23 |
| Stockton | $1,793.43 | $150.86 |
| Suburban Chicago | $1,718.49 | $179.32 |
| Tennessee | $1,507.58 | $145.26 |
| Utah | $1,563.69 | $154.92 |
| Vallejo | $2,133.83 | $158.54 |
| Vermont | $1,629.79 | $146.08 |
| Virgin Islands | $1,673.68 | $158.50 |
| Virginia | $1,624.17 | $150.95 |
| Visalia | $1,793.43 | $150.86 |
| West Virginia | $1,469.24 | $166.87 |
| Wisconsin | $1,576.24 | $140.49 |
| Wyoming** | $1,650.84 | $152.14 |
| Yuba City | $1,793.43 | $150.86 |
36482 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.
$1,431.11
$2,061.41
Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.
View every state and territory as a table
| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $1,801.75 | 1 |
| AL | $1,456.68 | 1 |
| AR | $1,431.11 | 1 |
| AZ | $1,606.67 | 1 |
| CA | $1,793.43–$2,329.39 | 29 |
| CO | $1,750.41 | 1 |
| CT | $1,781.81 | 1 |
| DC | $1,936.61 | 1 |
| DE | $1,637.17 | 1 |
| FL | $1,603.14–$1,757.91 | 3 |
| GA | $1,498.17–$1,687.02 | 2 |
| GU | $1,854.83 | 1 |
| HI | $1,854.83 | 1 |
| IA | $1,513.18 | 1 |
| ID | $1,522.68 | 1 |
| IL | $1,539.35–$1,718.49 | 4 |
| IN | $1,533.63 | 1 |
| KS | $1,499.16 | 1 |
| KY | $1,486.68 | 1 |
| LA | $1,481.68–$1,571.17 | 2 |
| MA | $1,734.57–$1,953.84 | 2 |
| MD | $1,674.66–$1,936.61 | 3 |
| ME | $1,526.41–$1,634.44 | 2 |
| MI | $1,528.48–$1,621.39 | 2 |
| MN | $1,683.75 | 1 |
| MO | $1,447.16–$1,584.52 | 3 |
| MS | $1,439.76 | 1 |
| MT | $1,657.30 | 1 |
| NC | $1,546.58 | 1 |
| ND | $1,642.47 | 1 |
| NE | $1,524.85 | 1 |
| NH | $1,716.48 | 1 |
| NJ | $1,804.03–$1,909.18 | 2 |
| NM | $1,536.36 | 1 |
| NV | $1,654.69 | 1 |
| NY | $1,573.99–$1,973.09 | 5 |
| OH | $1,525.45 | 1 |
| OK | $1,489.30 | 1 |
| OR | $1,643.84–$1,821.30 | 2 |
| PA | $1,531.47–$1,726.49 | 2 |
| PR | $1,673.68 | 1 |
| RI | $1,706.92 | 1 |
| SC | $1,538.20 | 1 |
| SD | $1,640.72 | 1 |
| TN | $1,507.58 | 1 |
| TX | $1,518.92–$1,742.79 | 8 |
| UT | $1,563.69 | 1 |
| VA | $1,624.17–$1,936.61 | 2 |
| VI | $1,673.68 | 1 |
| VT | $1,629.79 | 1 |
| WA | $1,733.32–$2,003.14 | 2 |
| WI | $1,576.24 | 1 |
| WV | $1,469.24 | 1 |
| WY | $1,650.84 | 1 |
How the 36482 rate is calculated
Each of 36482’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 · 36482
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 3.41Practice expense 45.46Malpractice 0.75
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 36482
The CMS indicators that decide how 36482 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 36482
Vein ablation
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 1 | Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
36482 without 50 · national office
$1,657.35
Vein ablation
36482-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$2,486.03
Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).
36482 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
36482 vs 36483 vs 36473 vs 36475 vs 36478: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 36483Vein ablation
- 36482 identifies the first vein treated with adhesive; 36483 is used for each additional vein treated in the same session.
- 36473Vein ablation
- 36473 is mechanochemical ablation using mechanical disruption and sclerosant. Use 36482 when the closure method is chemical adhesive.
- 36475Venous ablation
- 36475 uses radiofrequency energy, while 36482 uses chemical adhesive for catheter-based vein closure.
- 36478Laser vein ablation
- 36478 uses laser energy to ablate the vein; 36482 uses chemical adhesive.
36482 billing questions
What is reported for an additional vein treated during the session?
Report 36482 for the first vein and 36483 for each additional vein treated. The record should distinguish the veins treated.
Is imaging guidance separately reported with 36482?
Imaging guidance and monitoring for the adhesive ablation are included in 36482.
How does 36482 differ from 36473?
36482 closes the vein with chemical adhesive. Code 36473 uses mechanochemical ablation, combining mechanical disruption with a sclerosant.
How does 36482 differ from 36475 or 36478?
36482 uses chemical adhesive; 36475 uses radiofrequency energy, and 36478 uses laser energy to ablate the vein.
How is bilateral treatment handled?
CMS lists 36482 as a bilateral procedure; with modifier 50, payment is at 150%.
Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?
CMS does not pay an assistant at surgery for 36482. 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
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