Billing code 50561: Renal endoscopyMedicare rate & RVUs
Percutaneous renal endoscopy with removal of a calculus or foreign body is reported when the surgeon treats the material through nephrostomy or nephrotomy access.
Medicare pays $495.00 for 50561 nationally in the office and $346.37 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $448.98–$618.07.
Medicare rate · 50561
Renal endoscopy
- Work RVUs
- 7.39
- Total RVUs
- 14.82
- Global days
- 000
National rate · 2026
$495.00
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 50561 →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 50561 covers
The surgeon advances an endoscope into the kidney through an established nephrostomy tract or a surgical opening in the kidney, then removes a calculus or foreign body under direct visualization. This approach may be used for a renal stone or retained material when treatment through percutaneous renal access is performed. Urologists typically perform the service in a hospital operating room, often with the patient under anesthesia.
Report 50561 for the endoscopic removal service, not for diagnostic inspection alone or when the documented procedure is tumor resection. The operative report should identify the renal access route and the material removed. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When related endoscopies are performed together, endoscopy-family pricing applies. For bilateral procedures, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. An assistant at surgery is payable only when medical necessity is documented; 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 50561 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
$448.98 to $618.07
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $454.07 | $324.02 |
| Alaska* | $618.07 | $459.77 |
| Arizona | $483.68 | $339.66 |
| Arkansas | $448.98 | $321.30 |
| Atlanta | $505.64 | $354.63 |
| Austin | $504.37 | $347.12 |
| Bakersfield | $507.90 | $345.00 |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $522.33 | $362.84 |
| Beaumont | $473.28 | $338.02 |
| Brazoria | $487.98 | $340.68 |
| Chicago | $539.33 | $389.96 |
| Chico | $505.07 | $342.16 |
| Colorado | $504.77 | $346.63 |
| Connecticut | $523.31 | $363.23 |
| Dallas | $491.81 | $343.77 |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $550.42 | $375.33 |
| Delaware | $490.40 | $343.55 |
| Detroit | $509.43 | $366.00 |
| East St. Louis | $510.23 | $373.48 |
| El Centro | $505.23 | $342.32 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $523.72 | $373.15 |
| Fort Worth | $490.06 | $343.51 |
| Fresno | $505.07 | $342.16 |
| Galveston | $489.95 | $342.35 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $505.07 | $342.16 |
| Hawaii, Guam | $511.11 | $342.11 |
| Houston | $507.52 | $359.93 |
| Idaho | $460.81 | $324.07 |
| Indiana | $462.74 | $324.96 |
| Iowa | $457.30 | $321.30 |
| Kansas | $458.35 | $323.99 |
| Kentucky | $468.29 | $336.15 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $533.89 | $358.06 |
| Madera | $505.07 | $342.16 |
| Manhattan | $564.60 | $391.88 |
| Merced | $505.07 | $342.16 |
| Metropolitan Boston | $543.52 | $366.05 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $481.08 | $341.51 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $514.49 | $359.77 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $484.69 | $343.19 |
| Miami | $552.89 | $398.16 |
| Minnesota | $478.69 | $325.75 |
| Mississippi | $456.59 | $328.62 |
| Modesto | $505.07 | $342.16 |
| Montana** | $494.94 | $346.30 |
| Napa | $563.50 | $367.60 |
| Nebraska | $458.42 | $321.23 |
| Nevada** | $489.86 | $341.08 |
| New Hampshire | $499.85 | $345.13 |
| New Mexico | $483.51 | $347.21 |
| New Orleans | $486.61 | $346.75 |
| North Carolina | $468.95 | $330.27 |
| North Dakota** | $475.95 | $327.32 |
| Northern Nj | $547.31 | $374.89 |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $579.12 | $402.40 |
| Ohio | $476.46 | $340.75 |
| Oklahoma | $464.73 | $332.00 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $529.16 | $353.47 |
| Portland | $514.73 | $349.60 |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $533.37 | $370.62 |
| Puerto Rico | $496.90 | $346.63 |
| Queens | $564.30 | $388.62 |
| Redding | $505.07 | $342.16 |
| Rest Of California | $505.07 | $342.16 |
| Rest Of Florida | $501.62 | $359.53 |
| Rest Of Georgia | $477.82 | $345.24 |
| Rest Of Illinois | $494.25 | $358.55 |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $468.80 | $337.26 |
| Rest Of Maine | $465.59 | $328.85 |
| Rest Of Maryland | $497.43 | $347.02 |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $503.89 | $347.38 |
| Rest Of Michigan | $480.34 | $344.63 |
| Rest Of Missouri | $464.35 | $336.22 |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $527.87 | $365.56 |
| Rest Of New York | $474.67 | $333.47 |
| Rest Of Oregon | $484.61 | $336.57 |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $475.52 | $339.07 |
| Rest Of Texas | $480.87 | $339.82 |
| Rest Of Washington | $502.00 | $345.49 |
| Rhode Island | $503.36 | $349.82 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $515.48 | $352.57 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $524.23 | $351.37 |
| Salinas | $522.14 | $349.87 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $530.08 | $352.31 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $589.71 | $380.13 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $588.62 | $379.04 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $602.79 | $388.46 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $598.34 | $384.01 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $514.36 | $345.06 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $531.77 | $351.18 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $522.91 | $349.60 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $536.80 | $354.28 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $550.53 | $368.16 |
| South Carolina | $473.77 | $336.43 |
| South Dakota** | $473.71 | $325.08 |
| Southern Maine | $481.22 | $333.93 |
| Stockton | $505.07 | $342.16 |
| Suburban Chicago | $527.32 | $374.67 |
| Tennessee | $460.49 | $325.38 |
| Utah | $478.76 | $339.05 |
| Vallejo | $561.93 | $366.03 |
| Vermont | $477.00 | $329.85 |
| Virgin Islands | $496.90 | $346.63 |
| Virginia | $481.90 | $335.79 |
| Visalia | $505.07 | $342.16 |
| West Virginia | $480.51 | $351.35 |
| Wisconsin | $463.74 | $321.34 |
| Wyoming** | $486.66 | $338.03 |
| Yuba City | $505.07 | $342.16 |
50561 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.
$448.98
$618.07
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 | $618.07 | 1 |
| AL | $454.07 | 1 |
| AR | $448.98 | 1 |
| AZ | $483.68 | 1 |
| CA | $505.07–$602.79 | 29 |
| CO | $504.77 | 1 |
| CT | $523.31 | 1 |
| DC | $550.42 | 1 |
| DE | $490.40 | 1 |
| FL | $501.62–$552.89 | 3 |
| GA | $477.82–$505.64 | 2 |
| GU | $511.11 | 1 |
| HI | $511.11 | 1 |
| IA | $457.30 | 1 |
| ID | $460.81 | 1 |
| IL | $494.25–$539.33 | 4 |
| IN | $462.74 | 1 |
| KS | $458.35 | 1 |
| KY | $468.29 | 1 |
| LA | $468.80–$486.61 | 2 |
| MA | $503.89–$543.52 | 2 |
| MD | $497.43–$550.42 | 3 |
| ME | $465.59–$481.22 | 2 |
| MI | $480.34–$509.43 | 2 |
| MN | $478.69 | 1 |
| MO | $464.35–$484.69 | 3 |
| MS | $456.59 | 1 |
| MT | $494.94 | 1 |
| NC | $468.95 | 1 |
| ND | $475.95 | 1 |
| NE | $458.42 | 1 |
| NH | $499.85 | 1 |
| NJ | $527.87–$547.31 | 2 |
| NM | $483.51 | 1 |
| NV | $489.86 | 1 |
| NY | $474.67–$579.12 | 5 |
| OH | $476.46 | 1 |
| OK | $464.73 | 1 |
| OR | $484.61–$514.73 | 2 |
| PA | $475.52–$514.49 | 2 |
| PR | $496.90 | 1 |
| RI | $503.36 | 1 |
| SC | $473.77 | 1 |
| SD | $473.71 | 1 |
| TN | $460.49 | 1 |
| TX | $473.28–$507.52 | 8 |
| UT | $478.76 | 1 |
| VA | $481.90–$550.42 | 2 |
| VI | $496.90 | 1 |
| VT | $477.00 | 1 |
| WA | $502.00–$550.53 | 2 |
| WI | $463.74 | 1 |
| WV | $480.51 | 1 |
| WY | $486.66 | 1 |
How the 50561 rate is calculated
Each of 50561’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 · 50561
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work7.39
7.39 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense6.47
6.47 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.96
0.96 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
14.8200
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$495.00
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 50561
The CMS indicators that decide how 50561 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 50561
Renal endoscopy
| 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 | 3 | Endoscopy family rules apply. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 1 | Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| 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
50561 without 50 · national office
$495.00
Renal endoscopy
50561-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$742.50
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).
50561 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 50551Renal endoscopy
- 50551 represents renal endoscopy for inspection and related diagnostic work; 50561 includes removal of a calculus or foreign body.
- 50555Kidney endoscopy
- 50555 is the biopsy-focused renal endoscopy service. Choose 50561 when the documented work removes a calculus or foreign body instead.
- 50562Renal endoscopy
- 50562 addresses endoscopic tumor resection. 50561 is for removal of a calculus or foreign body, not tumor resection.
- 50590Kidney stone treatment
- 50590 describes kidney-stone fragmentation. 50561 is reported for endoscopic removal through renal access; select based on the procedure actually performed.
50561 billing questions
When is 50561 different from diagnostic renal endoscopy?
50561 includes endoscopic removal of a calculus or foreign body through renal access. Use a diagnostic renal endoscopy code when inspection is performed without that removal.
Does this code include removal of a renal tumor?
No. A documented endoscopic tumor resection is represented by a distinct renal endoscopy code, such as 50562, rather than 50561.
How should bilateral treatment be reported?
For bilateral procedures, report modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
Can an assistant surgeon be reported?
CMS pays an assistant at surgery only when the record documents medical necessity. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
What same-day care is included in the payment?
The 0-day global period includes preoperative and postoperative care on the procedure date. Related endoscopies performed together are subject to endoscopy-family pricing.
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 50561 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 →