Billing code 47539: Biliary stentMedicare rate & RVUs
Reports percutaneous placement of a biliary stent when the service requires creating new access to the bile ducts rather than using existing access.
Medicare pays $3,972.37 for 47539 nationally in the office and $366.74 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $3,441.06–$5,603.61.
Medicare rate · 47539
Biliary stent
- Work RVUs
- 8.53
- Total RVUs
- 118.93
- Global days
- 000
National rate · 2026
$3,972.37
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 47539 →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 47539 covers
An interventional radiologist typically uses image guidance to establish percutaneous access to the biliary system and place a stent to relieve an obstructed or narrowed bile duct. This approach may be used for biliary obstruction associated with a stricture or tumor. The defining distinction from 47538 is that this service involves new access, rather than an already established biliary access route. Imaging guidance and related work integral to stent placement are part of the service.
Report 47539 for the stent placement through newly created percutaneous access; documentation should identify the access route and the stent procedure performed. The code has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code, and co-surgeon and team-surgery reporting 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 47539 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
$3441.06 to $5603.61
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $3,501.22 | $346.30 |
| Alaska* | $4,337.51 | $497.52 |
| Arizona | $3,854.32 | $360.47 |
| Arkansas | $3,441.06 | $343.83 |
| Atlanta | $4,038.34 | $375.02 |
| Austin | $4,181.12 | $366.37 |
| Bakersfield | $4,315.67 | $363.91 |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $4,251.54 | $382.70 |
| Beaumont | $3,641.13 | $360.01 |
| Brazoria | $3,934.48 | $361.31 |
| Chicago | $4,035.46 | $411.80 |
| Chico | $4,312.69 | $360.92 |
| Colorado | $4,202.43 | $366.04 |
| Connecticut | $4,266.40 | $383.14 |
| Dallas | $3,955.62 | $364.42 |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $4,641.97 | $394.54 |
| Delaware | $3,926.60 | $364.24 |
| Detroit | $3,867.15 | $387.72 |
| East St. Louis | $3,713.55 | $396.37 |
| El Centro | $4,312.86 | $361.09 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $4,046.59 | $394.09 |
| Fort Worth | $3,919.51 | $364.36 |
| Fresno | $4,312.69 | $360.92 |
| Galveston | $3,943.38 | $362.99 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $4,312.69 | $360.92 |
| Hawaii, Guam | $4,459.10 | $359.50 |
| Houston | $3,961.50 | $381.11 |
| Idaho | $3,662.59 | $345.41 |
| Indiana | $3,688.60 | $346.19 |
| Iowa | $3,641.81 | $342.66 |
| Kansas | $3,605.15 | $345.66 |
| Kentucky | $3,563.92 | $358.52 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $4,641.69 | $376.24 |
| Madera | $4,312.69 | $360.92 |
| Manhattan | $4,601.99 | $412.25 |
| Merced | $4,312.69 | $360.92 |
| Metropolitan Boston | $4,689.37 | $384.25 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $3,748.69 | $363.01 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $4,133.71 | $380.25 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $3,797.02 | $364.47 |
| Miami | $4,172.76 | $419.30 |
| Minnesota | $4,055.07 | $344.88 |
| Mississippi | $3,455.78 | $351.33 |
| Modesto | $4,312.69 | $360.92 |
| Montana** | $3,972.30 | $366.68 |
| Napa | $5,136.15 | $383.93 |
| Nebraska | $3,670.41 | $342.42 |
| Nevada** | $3,970.50 | $361.27 |
| New Hampshire | $4,118.07 | $364.61 |
| New Mexico | $3,675.70 | $369.34 |
| New Orleans | $3,761.26 | $368.36 |
| North Carolina | $3,715.59 | $351.54 |
| North Dakota** | $3,952.73 | $347.10 |
| Northern Nj | $4,577.27 | $394.74 |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $4,709.62 | $422.53 |
| Ohio | $3,654.70 | $362.76 |
| Oklahoma | $3,573.98 | $354.15 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $4,632.98 | $371.13 |
| Portland | $4,374.10 | $368.25 |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $4,339.30 | $391.14 |
| Puerto Rico | $4,012.07 | $366.78 |
| Queens | $4,670.32 | $408.47 |
| Redding | $4,312.69 | $360.92 |
| Rest Of California | $4,312.69 | $360.92 |
| Rest Of Florida | $3,828.21 | $381.23 |
| Rest Of Georgia | $3,584.04 | $367.82 |
| Rest Of Illinois | $3,673.05 | $381.12 |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $3,550.73 | $359.75 |
| Rest Of Maine | $3,667.52 | $350.34 |
| Rest Of Maryland | $4,016.36 | $367.46 |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $4,163.90 | $367.17 |
| Rest Of Michigan | $3,658.70 | $366.76 |
| Rest Of Missouri | $3,467.20 | $359.15 |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $4,323.18 | $385.83 |
| Rest Of New York | $3,779.83 | $354.48 |
| Rest Of Oregon | $3,947.93 | $356.73 |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $3,670.89 | $360.92 |
| Rest Of Texas | $3,782.79 | $361.05 |
| Rest Of Washington | $4,161.85 | $365.13 |
| Rhode Island | $4,094.81 | $370.19 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $4,323.46 | $371.69 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $4,562.95 | $369.60 |
| Salinas | $4,546.91 | $367.98 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $4,682.03 | $369.70 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $5,479.85 | $395.91 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $5,478.72 | $394.79 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $5,603.61 | $404.29 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $5,599.01 | $399.70 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $4,469.83 | $363.02 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $4,748.70 | $367.87 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $4,571.63 | $367.47 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $4,798.77 | $371.06 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $4,810.11 | $386.01 |
| South Carolina | $3,689.68 | $358.08 |
| South Dakota** | $3,950.41 | $344.79 |
| Southern Maine | $3,927.28 | $354.10 |
| Stockton | $4,312.69 | $360.92 |
| Suburban Chicago | $4,098.56 | $395.58 |
| Tennessee | $3,624.51 | $346.99 |
| Utah | $3,749.73 | $360.44 |
| Vallejo | $5,134.53 | $382.31 |
| Vermont | $3,919.49 | $349.92 |
| Virgin Islands | $4,012.07 | $366.78 |
| Virginia | $3,900.52 | $356.19 |
| Visalia | $4,312.69 | $360.92 |
| West Virginia | $3,507.90 | $374.61 |
| Wisconsin | $3,796.00 | $341.81 |
| Wyoming** | $3,963.77 | $358.14 |
| Yuba City | $4,312.69 | $360.92 |
47539 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.
$3,441.06
$4,958.15
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 | $4,337.51 | 1 |
| AL | $3,501.22 | 1 |
| AR | $3,441.06 | 1 |
| AZ | $3,854.32 | 1 |
| CA | $4,312.69–$5,603.61 | 29 |
| CO | $4,202.43 | 1 |
| CT | $4,266.40 | 1 |
| DC | $4,641.97 | 1 |
| DE | $3,926.60 | 1 |
| FL | $3,828.21–$4,172.76 | 3 |
| GA | $3,584.04–$4,038.34 | 2 |
| GU | $4,459.10 | 1 |
| HI | $4,459.10 | 1 |
| IA | $3,641.81 | 1 |
| ID | $3,662.59 | 1 |
| IL | $3,673.05–$4,098.56 | 4 |
| IN | $3,688.60 | 1 |
| KS | $3,605.15 | 1 |
| KY | $3,563.92 | 1 |
| LA | $3,550.73–$3,761.26 | 2 |
| MA | $4,163.90–$4,689.37 | 2 |
| MD | $4,016.36–$4,641.97 | 3 |
| ME | $3,667.52–$3,927.28 | 2 |
| MI | $3,658.70–$3,867.15 | 2 |
| MN | $4,055.07 | 1 |
| MO | $3,467.20–$3,797.02 | 3 |
| MS | $3,455.78 | 1 |
| MT | $3,972.30 | 1 |
| NC | $3,715.59 | 1 |
| ND | $3,952.73 | 1 |
| NE | $3,670.41 | 1 |
| NH | $4,118.07 | 1 |
| NJ | $4,323.18–$4,577.27 | 2 |
| NM | $3,675.70 | 1 |
| NV | $3,970.50 | 1 |
| NY | $3,779.83–$4,709.62 | 5 |
| OH | $3,654.70 | 1 |
| OK | $3,573.98 | 1 |
| OR | $3,947.93–$4,374.10 | 2 |
| PA | $3,670.89–$4,133.71 | 2 |
| PR | $4,012.07 | 1 |
| RI | $4,094.81 | 1 |
| SC | $3,689.68 | 1 |
| SD | $3,950.41 | 1 |
| TN | $3,624.51 | 1 |
| TX | $3,641.13–$4,181.12 | 8 |
| UT | $3,749.73 | 1 |
| VA | $3,900.52–$4,641.97 | 2 |
| VI | $4,012.07 | 1 |
| VT | $3,919.49 | 1 |
| WA | $4,161.85–$4,810.11 | 2 |
| WI | $3,796.00 | 1 |
| WV | $3,507.90 | 1 |
| WY | $3,963.77 | 1 |
How the 47539 rate is calculated
Each of 47539’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 · 47539
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work8.53
8.53 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense109.41
109.41 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.99
0.99 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
118.9300
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$3,972.37
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 47539
The CMS indicators that decide how 47539 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 47539
Biliary stent
| 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
47539 without 51 · national office
$3,972.37
Biliary stent
47539-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$1,986.19
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%).
47539 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 47538Biliary stent
- Choose 47539 when the procedure establishes new percutaneous access for stent placement. Choose 47538 when the operator uses existing access.
- 47540Biliary stent
- 47539 represents the primary stent-placement service through new access. 47540 is reported for each additional stent when applicable.
- 47533Biliary drainage
- 47533 reports placement of a biliary drainage catheter. 47539 reports placement of a biliary stent.
- 47534Biliary drainage
- 47534 reports placement of an internal-external biliary drainage catheter; 47539 is for biliary stent placement through new access.
47539 billing questions
How does 47539 differ from 47538?
47539 describes biliary stent placement through newly created percutaneous access. Use 47538 when the stent is placed through existing access.
Can diagnostic cholangiography be billed separately?
Diagnostic cholangiography performed as part of the stent-placement service is included. Do not report it separately for that integral work.
When is 47540 reported with 47539?
47540 is the add-on code for each additional biliary stent when applicable. Report it with the appropriate primary stent-placement code, not by itself.
Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral stent placement?
No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply to 47539, and modifier 50 is inappropriate.
What documentation supports 47539?
Document that new percutaneous access was established, the biliary stent placement performed, and the clinical indication, such as biliary obstruction or narrowing.
How does the 0-day global period affect same-day care?
Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included in the procedure's 0-day global period.
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
Fee sheets
Put 47539 and the rest of your codes on one sheet
Build a fee sheet from your own code list at your locality, put your payer contracts beside Medicare, and see what changed each quarter.
Build my fee sheetOr price your code list free →