Billing code 47536: Biliary catheter exchangeMedicare rate & RVUs
Report this service when a clinician exchanges an existing percutaneous biliary drainage catheter, using the established access route to place its replacement.
Medicare pays $604.56 for 47536 nationally in the office and $114.57 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $528.06–$835.13.
Medicare rate · 47536
Biliary catheter exchange
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 2.54
- Total RVUs
- 18.10
- Global days
- 000
National rate · 2026
$604.56
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 47536 → · 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 47536 covers
An interventional radiologist or other qualified physician exchanges a biliary drainage catheter through an existing percutaneous access route, typically under imaging guidance. The service is used when a catheter needs replacement while biliary drainage access remains necessary, such as during a scheduled catheter change or when the existing catheter is obstructed or no longer functioning as intended. Fluoroscopic guidance is included when performed.
Choose this code for an exchange, not for creating new drainage access, changing an external catheter to an internal-external configuration, or simply removing a catheter. The report should identify the existing catheter and access, explain the exchange, and document the replacement catheter’s position and outcome. The code has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% 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.
Where 47536 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
$528.06 to $835.13
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $536.70 | $107.96 |
| Alaska* | $675.95 | $154.11 |
| Arizona | $587.39 | $112.59 |
| Arkansas | $528.06 | $107.16 |
| Atlanta | $614.86 | $117.03 |
| Austin | $633.26 | $114.85 |
| Bakersfield | $651.51 | $114.48 |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $645.39 | $119.63 |
| Beaumont | $557.96 | $112.07 |
| Brazoria | $598.58 | $113.00 |
| Chicago | $619.81 | $127.37 |
| Chico | $650.65 | $113.62 |
| Colorado | $636.19 | $114.84 |
| Connecticut | $647.52 | $119.79 |
| Dallas | $601.95 | $113.92 |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $701.04 | $123.83 |
| Delaware | $597.91 | $113.80 |
| Detroit | $593.11 | $120.27 |
| East St. Louis | $573.21 | $122.42 |
| El Centro | $650.70 | $113.67 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $618.75 | $122.39 |
| Fort Worth | $596.97 | $113.84 |
| Fresno | $650.65 | $113.62 |
| Galveston | $600.05 | $113.49 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $650.65 | $113.62 |
| Hawaii, Guam | $670.54 | $113.42 |
| Houston | $605.18 | $118.62 |
| Idaho | $558.80 | $108.01 |
| Indiana | $562.49 | $108.27 |
| Iowa | $555.54 | $107.19 |
| Kansas | $550.92 | $107.97 |
| Kentucky | $547.11 | $111.51 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $698.29 | $118.63 |
| Madera | $650.65 | $113.62 |
| Manhattan | $698.15 | $128.78 |
| Merced | $650.65 | $113.62 |
| Metropolitan Boston | $706.02 | $120.97 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $573.21 | $113.11 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $628.81 | $118.73 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $580.08 | $113.61 |
| Miami | $639.78 | $129.70 |
| Minnesota | $612.77 | $108.57 |
| Mississippi | $531.17 | $109.29 |
| Modesto | $650.65 | $113.62 |
| Montana** | $604.54 | $114.55 |
| Napa | $767.60 | $121.79 |
| Nebraska | $559.44 | $107.18 |
| Nevada** | $603.50 | $113.02 |
| New Hampshire | $624.31 | $114.23 |
| New Mexico | $564.08 | $114.75 |
| New Orleans | $575.72 | $114.63 |
| North Carolina | $566.99 | $109.82 |
| North Dakota** | $599.00 | $109.01 |
| Northern Nj | $692.20 | $123.81 |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $714.46 | $131.86 |
| Ohio | $560.23 | $112.87 |
| Oklahoma | $547.86 | $110.30 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $696.29 | $117.12 |
| Portland | $660.17 | $115.79 |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $658.82 | $122.28 |
| Puerto Rico | $610.03 | $114.65 |
| Queens | $707.01 | $127.84 |
| Redding | $650.65 | $113.62 |
| Rest Of California | $650.65 | $113.62 |
| Rest Of Florida | $586.80 | $118.37 |
| Rest Of Georgia | $551.23 | $114.16 |
| Rest Of Illinois | $565.42 | $118.06 |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $545.47 | $111.83 |
| Rest Of Maine | $560.19 | $109.40 |
| Rest Of Maryland | $610.76 | $114.89 |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $631.06 | $115.10 |
| Rest Of Michigan | $561.36 | $114.00 |
| Rest Of Missouri | $533.88 | $111.51 |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $655.81 | $120.74 |
| Rest Of New York | $576.26 | $110.77 |
| Rest Of Oregon | $599.74 | $111.71 |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $562.19 | $112.38 |
| Rest Of Texas | $577.62 | $112.62 |
| Rest Of Washington | $630.47 | $114.51 |
| Rhode Island | $622.00 | $115.84 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $653.70 | $116.67 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $686.46 | $116.60 |
| Salinas | $683.99 | $116.10 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $702.85 | $116.82 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $816.81 | $125.92 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $816.49 | $125.60 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $835.13 | $128.56 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $833.83 | $127.26 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $672.60 | $114.50 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $711.73 | $116.39 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $687.31 | $115.98 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $719.13 | $117.42 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $722.94 | $121.72 |
| South Carolina | $564.37 | $111.61 |
| South Dakota** | $598.35 | $108.36 |
| Southern Maine | $596.51 | $110.93 |
| Stockton | $650.65 | $113.62 |
| Suburban Chicago | $626.15 | $122.93 |
| Tennessee | $553.78 | $108.38 |
| Utah | $572.98 | $112.39 |
| Vallejo | $767.14 | $121.33 |
| Vermont | $594.83 | $109.74 |
| Virgin Islands | $610.03 | $114.65 |
| Virginia | $593.13 | $111.47 |
| Visalia | $650.65 | $113.62 |
| West Virginia | $541.73 | $115.93 |
| Wisconsin | $576.65 | $107.24 |
| Wyoming** | $602.12 | $112.13 |
| Yuba City | $650.65 | $113.62 |
47536 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.
$528.06
$742.89
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 | $675.95 | 1 |
| AL | $536.70 | 1 |
| AR | $528.06 | 1 |
| AZ | $587.39 | 1 |
| CA | $650.65–$835.13 | 29 |
| CO | $636.19 | 1 |
| CT | $647.52 | 1 |
| DC | $701.04 | 1 |
| DE | $597.91 | 1 |
| FL | $586.80–$639.78 | 3 |
| GA | $551.23–$614.86 | 2 |
| GU | $670.54 | 1 |
| HI | $670.54 | 1 |
| IA | $555.54 | 1 |
| ID | $558.80 | 1 |
| IL | $565.42–$626.15 | 4 |
| IN | $562.49 | 1 |
| KS | $550.92 | 1 |
| KY | $547.11 | 1 |
| LA | $545.47–$575.72 | 2 |
| MA | $631.06–$706.02 | 2 |
| MD | $610.76–$701.04 | 3 |
| ME | $560.19–$596.51 | 2 |
| MI | $561.36–$593.11 | 2 |
| MN | $612.77 | 1 |
| MO | $533.88–$580.08 | 3 |
| MS | $531.17 | 1 |
| MT | $604.54 | 1 |
| NC | $566.99 | 1 |
| ND | $599.00 | 1 |
| NE | $559.44 | 1 |
| NH | $624.31 | 1 |
| NJ | $655.81–$692.20 | 2 |
| NM | $564.08 | 1 |
| NV | $603.50 | 1 |
| NY | $576.26–$714.46 | 5 |
| OH | $560.23 | 1 |
| OK | $547.86 | 1 |
| OR | $599.74–$660.17 | 2 |
| PA | $562.19–$628.81 | 2 |
| PR | $610.03 | 1 |
| RI | $622.00 | 1 |
| SC | $564.37 | 1 |
| SD | $598.35 | 1 |
| TN | $553.78 | 1 |
| TX | $557.96–$633.26 | 8 |
| UT | $572.98 | 1 |
| VA | $593.13–$701.04 | 2 |
| VI | $610.03 | 1 |
| VT | $594.83 | 1 |
| WA | $630.47–$722.94 | 2 |
| WI | $576.65 | 1 |
| WV | $541.73 | 1 |
| WY | $602.12 | 1 |
How the 47536 rate is calculated
Each of 47536’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 · 47536
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 2.54Practice expense 15.28Malpractice 0.28
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 47536
The CMS indicators that decide how 47536 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 47536
Biliary catheter exchange
| 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
47536 without 51 · national office
$604.56
Biliary catheter exchange
47536-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$302.28
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%).
47536 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
47536 vs 47533 vs 47534 vs 47535 vs 47537: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 47533Biliary drainage
- Choose 47533 for placement of a percutaneous external biliary drainage catheter. Choose 47536 when an existing catheter is exchanged.
- 47534Biliary drainage
- Code 47534 describes placement of an internal-external drainage catheter. Code 47536 describes exchanging an existing biliary drainage catheter.
- 47535Biliary catheter conversion
- Code 47535 applies when the catheter is converted from external to internal-external drainage. A replacement without that configuration change is an exchange.
- 47537Biliary catheter removal
- Code 47537 is for catheter removal without replacement; 47536 is for exchange with a replacement catheter.
47536 billing questions
How is an exchange different from a new catheter placement?
Report 47536 when an existing percutaneous biliary drainage catheter is exchanged through its established access route. Codes 47533 and 47534 describe placement of a drainage catheter rather than exchange.
When should 47535 be considered instead?
Use 47535 for conversion of an external biliary drainage catheter to an internal-external catheter configuration. An exchange that replaces the catheter without that conversion is reported with 47536.
Is catheter removal reported as an exchange?
No. Code 47537 describes percutaneous removal of a biliary drainage catheter; 47536 describes exchange with a replacement catheter.
Is fluoroscopic guidance included?
Fluoroscopic guidance is included when performed. Document the exchange and the replacement catheter’s final position and outcome.
Can modifier 50 or an assistant-at-surgery claim be used?
Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures in the same session are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction.
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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