Billing code 36522: PhotopheresisMedicare rate & RVUs
Reports extracorporeal photopheresis, in which collected white blood cells are treated with a photosensitizing agent and ultraviolet light before reinfusion.
Medicare pays $1,362.42 for 36522 nationally in the office and $78.16 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $1,176.88–$1,941.72.
Medicare rate · 36522
Photopheresis
- Work RVUs
- 1.71
- Total RVUs
- 40.79
- Global days
- 000
National rate · 2026
$1,362.42
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 36522 →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 36522 covers
Extracorporeal photopheresis collects a patient’s white blood cells, exposes them outside the body to a photosensitizing agent and UVA light, and returns the treated cells. Apheresis staff typically perform the treatment in a hospital outpatient department or specialized apheresis unit under physician oversight. Common clinical settings include treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and graft-versus-host disease.
Report 36522 for the photopheresis treatment, not separately for its collection, cell-treatment, and reinfusion steps. Documentation should identify the treatment performed and support that the cells underwent the photopheresis process. The code has 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 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.
Where 36522 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
$1176.88 to $1941.72
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $1,197.92 | $74.19 |
| Alaska* | $1,473.59 | $105.85 |
| Arizona | $1,321.47 | $77.02 |
| Arkansas | $1,176.88 | $73.70 |
| Atlanta | $1,384.28 | $79.47 |
| Austin | $1,437.50 | $78.75 |
| Bakersfield | $1,486.70 | $79.15 |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $1,459.34 | $81.32 |
| Beaumont | $1,245.03 | $76.35 |
| Brazoria | $1,350.22 | $77.51 |
| Chicago | $1,374.95 | $84.26 |
| Chico | $1,486.27 | $78.72 |
| Colorado | $1,445.42 | $78.96 |
| Connecticut | $1,464.65 | $81.50 |
| Dallas | $1,357.12 | $77.99 |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $1,597.57 | $84.71 |
| Delaware | $1,346.66 | $77.80 |
| Detroit | $1,319.87 | $80.55 |
| East St. Louis | $1,262.75 | $81.22 |
| El Centro | $1,486.29 | $78.74 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $1,382.84 | $81.88 |
| Fort Worth | $1,344.16 | $77.88 |
| Fresno | $1,486.27 | $78.72 |
| Galveston | $1,353.03 | $77.75 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $1,486.27 | $78.72 |
| Hawaii, Guam | $1,538.83 | $78.62 |
| Houston | $1,355.41 | $80.13 |
| Idaho | $1,256.06 | $74.53 |
| Indiana | $1,265.22 | $74.71 |
| Iowa | $1,249.22 | $74.12 |
| Kansas | $1,235.38 | $74.40 |
| Kentucky | $1,217.65 | $75.94 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $1,601.38 | $82.10 |
| Madera | $1,486.27 | $78.72 |
| Manhattan | $1,579.38 | $87.06 |
| Merced | $1,486.27 | $78.72 |
| Metropolitan Boston | $1,616.67 | $83.26 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $1,282.96 | $77.04 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $1,417.63 | $80.71 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $1,299.99 | $77.37 |
| Miami | $1,422.40 | $85.48 |
| Minnesota | $1,397.09 | $75.59 |
| Mississippi | $1,180.46 | $74.70 |
| Modesto | $1,486.27 | $78.72 |
| Montana** | $1,362.41 | $78.15 |
| Napa | $1,777.59 | $84.93 |
| Nebraska | $1,259.55 | $74.17 |
| Nevada** | $1,363.00 | $77.45 |
| New Hampshire | $1,415.22 | $78.30 |
| New Mexico | $1,255.32 | $77.64 |
| New Orleans | $1,286.26 | $77.76 |
| North Carolina | $1,273.69 | $75.47 |
| North Dakota** | $1,359.84 | $75.58 |
| Northern Nj | $1,574.47 | $84.72 |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $1,615.68 | $88.69 |
| Ohio | $1,249.27 | $76.74 |
| Oklahoma | $1,222.25 | $75.40 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $1,599.16 | $81.16 |
| Portland | $1,506.63 | $79.81 |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $1,489.50 | $83.23 |
| Puerto Rico | $1,376.67 | $78.28 |
| Queens | $1,604.77 | $86.77 |
| Redding | $1,486.27 | $78.72 |
| Rest Of California | $1,486.27 | $78.72 |
| Rest Of Florida | $1,307.36 | $79.61 |
| Rest Of Georgia | $1,222.75 | $77.19 |
| Rest Of Illinois | $1,251.68 | $79.15 |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $1,212.63 | $76.06 |
| Rest Of Maine | $1,256.70 | $75.18 |
| Rest Of Maryland | $1,378.25 | $78.57 |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $1,431.41 | $79.08 |
| Rest Of Michigan | $1,249.80 | $77.27 |
| Rest Of Missouri | $1,182.78 | $75.74 |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $1,484.82 | $82.40 |
| Rest Of New York | $1,296.08 | $76.03 |
| Rest Of Oregon | $1,355.93 | $76.80 |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $1,255.50 | $76.55 |
| Rest Of Texas | $1,295.65 | $76.89 |
| Rest Of Washington | $1,431.08 | $78.75 |
| Rhode Island | $1,405.97 | $79.33 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $1,487.71 | $80.15 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $1,574.52 | $80.92 |
| Salinas | $1,569.03 | $80.57 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $1,617.14 | $81.16 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $1,898.90 | $88.08 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $1,898.75 | $87.93 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $1,941.72 | $89.81 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $1,941.11 | $89.20 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $1,542.21 | $79.44 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $1,641.31 | $80.93 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $1,577.97 | $80.51 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $1,658.74 | $81.66 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $1,659.80 | $84.01 |
| South Carolina | $1,262.90 | $76.24 |
| South Dakota** | $1,359.54 | $75.27 |
| Southern Maine | $1,349.11 | $76.41 |
| Stockton | $1,486.27 | $78.72 |
| Suburban Chicago | $1,401.30 | $82.36 |
| Tennessee | $1,242.02 | $74.63 |
| Utah | $1,283.92 | $76.71 |
| Vallejo | $1,777.38 | $84.72 |
| Vermont | $1,347.27 | $75.85 |
| Virgin Islands | $1,376.67 | $78.28 |
| Virginia | $1,339.03 | $76.60 |
| Visalia | $1,486.27 | $78.72 |
| West Virginia | $1,193.87 | $77.84 |
| Wisconsin | $1,304.78 | $74.45 |
| Wyoming** | $1,361.29 | $77.03 |
| Yuba City | $1,486.27 | $78.72 |
36522 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.
$1,176.88
$1,714.00
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 | $1,473.59 | 1 |
| AL | $1,197.92 | 1 |
| AR | $1,176.88 | 1 |
| AZ | $1,321.47 | 1 |
| CA | $1,486.27–$1,941.72 | 29 |
| CO | $1,445.42 | 1 |
| CT | $1,464.65 | 1 |
| DC | $1,597.57 | 1 |
| DE | $1,346.66 | 1 |
| FL | $1,307.36–$1,422.40 | 3 |
| GA | $1,222.75–$1,384.28 | 2 |
| GU | $1,538.83 | 1 |
| HI | $1,538.83 | 1 |
| IA | $1,249.22 | 1 |
| ID | $1,256.06 | 1 |
| IL | $1,251.68–$1,401.30 | 4 |
| IN | $1,265.22 | 1 |
| KS | $1,235.38 | 1 |
| KY | $1,217.65 | 1 |
| LA | $1,212.63–$1,286.26 | 2 |
| MA | $1,431.41–$1,616.67 | 2 |
| MD | $1,378.25–$1,597.57 | 3 |
| ME | $1,256.70–$1,349.11 | 2 |
| MI | $1,249.80–$1,319.87 | 2 |
| MN | $1,397.09 | 1 |
| MO | $1,182.78–$1,299.99 | 3 |
| MS | $1,180.46 | 1 |
| MT | $1,362.41 | 1 |
| NC | $1,273.69 | 1 |
| ND | $1,359.84 | 1 |
| NE | $1,259.55 | 1 |
| NH | $1,415.22 | 1 |
| NJ | $1,484.82–$1,574.47 | 2 |
| NM | $1,255.32 | 1 |
| NV | $1,363.00 | 1 |
| NY | $1,296.08–$1,615.68 | 5 |
| OH | $1,249.27 | 1 |
| OK | $1,222.25 | 1 |
| OR | $1,355.93–$1,506.63 | 2 |
| PA | $1,255.50–$1,417.63 | 2 |
| PR | $1,376.67 | 1 |
| RI | $1,405.97 | 1 |
| SC | $1,262.90 | 1 |
| SD | $1,359.54 | 1 |
| TN | $1,242.02 | 1 |
| TX | $1,245.03–$1,437.50 | 8 |
| UT | $1,283.92 | 1 |
| VA | $1,339.03–$1,597.57 | 2 |
| VI | $1,376.67 | 1 |
| VT | $1,347.27 | 1 |
| WA | $1,431.08–$1,659.80 | 2 |
| WI | $1,304.78 | 1 |
| WV | $1,193.87 | 1 |
| WY | $1,361.29 | 1 |
How the 36522 rate is calculated
Each of 36522’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 · 36522
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.71
1.71 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense38.95
38.95 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.13
0.13 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
40.7900
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,362.42
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 36522
The CMS indicators that decide how 36522 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 36522
Photopheresis
| 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) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| 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 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
36522 without 51 · national office
$1,362.42
Photopheresis
36522-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$681.21
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%).
36522 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 36511Leukocyte apheresis
- Use 36522 when collected cells receive the photosensitizer-and-UVA treatment before reinfusion. Code 36511 describes white blood cell apheresis without that photopheresis process.
- 36514Plasma exchange
- Code 36514 describes plasma apheresis. It does not represent treating collected white blood cells with UVA light and returning them.
- 36516Therapeutic apheresis
- Code 36516 is for selective immunoadsorption apheresis. Photopheresis uses a different cell-treatment process involving a photosensitizing agent and UVA exposure.
36522 billing questions
How is photopheresis different from white blood cell apheresis?
Photopheresis includes treatment of the collected cells with a photosensitizing agent and UVA light before they are returned. White blood cell apheresis alone does not describe that treatment process.
Can the collection and reinfusion steps be billed separately?
Do not separately report the collection, cell treatment, or reinfusion steps that make up the photopheresis treatment.
Should modifier 50 be used for treatment of both sides?
No. Bilateral adjustment does not apply to 36522, and modifier 50 is inappropriate.
What documentation supports reporting 36522?
Document the photopheresis treatment performed, including collection and treatment of the cells before reinfusion. The record should distinguish this service from apheresis that only collects or removes a blood component.
How does the multiple-procedure rule affect 36522?
When other procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the other procedures are subject to the 50% multiple-procedure reduction.
Can an assistant, co-surgeon, or surgical team be reported?
Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for 36522. 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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