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Billing code 50574: Kidney endoscopyMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports renal endoscopy with tissue sampling when a urologist examines the kidney and obtains a biopsy during the endoscopic procedure.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities

Medicare pays $493.33 for 50574 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 50574

Kidney endoscopy

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
10.73
Total RVUs
14.77
Global days
000

National rate · 2026

$493.33

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 50574 → · 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
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 50574 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 50574 covers

A urologist uses an endoscope to examine the kidney and obtain tissue for diagnostic evaluation, such as sampling abnormal or suspicious tissue found during the procedure. The operative record should identify the kidney, the access route, the area examined, and the biopsy site or sites. This service is generally performed in an operative or procedural setting where the endoscopic approach and specimen collection can be documented.

Select this code when the documented renal endoscopy includes biopsy, using the specific access approach described by the code rather than choosing by the biopsy alone. The operative note should support both the endoscopic examination and tissue sampling; pathology documentation can identify the submitted specimen. The procedure has 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 a bilateral procedure, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; 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 50574 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

50574 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$462.32
Alaska*Unavailable$657.78
ArizonaUnavailable$483.98
ArkansasUnavailable$458.56
AtlantaUnavailable$505.03
AustinUnavailable$494.00
BakersfieldUnavailable$490.81
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$516.42
BeaumontUnavailable$482.06
BrazoriaUnavailable$485.33

50574 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

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Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

View every state and territory as a table
50574 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 50574 rate is calculated

Each of 50574’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 · 50574

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 10.73Practice expense 2.67Malpractice 1.37

14.7700 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$493.33

All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 50574

The CMS indicators that decide how 50574 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 50574

Kidney endoscopy

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included.
Multiple procedures3Endoscopy family rules apply.
Bilateral (modifier 50)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

50574 without 50 · national facility

$493.33

Kidney endoscopy

50574-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$740.00

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).

When to use modifier 50

50574 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

50574 vs 50551 vs 50555 vs 50562: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 50574
    Kidney endoscopy · 10.73 wRVU
    —
  • 50551
    Renal endoscopy · 5.45 wRVU
    $377.10
  • 50555
    Kidney endoscopy · 6.36 wRVU
    $429.54
  • 50562
    Renal endoscopy · 10.63 wRVU
    —

How to choose

50551Renal endoscopy
Use a diagnostic renal endoscopy code when the service is examination only. This code includes tissue sampling during the endoscopy.
50555Kidney endoscopy
Both codes describe renal endoscopy with biopsy in CMS short descriptors. Check the complete code descriptors and operative documentation to select the correct access approach.
50562Renal endoscopy
This code represents endoscopic tumor resection, not biopsy sampling alone. Choose it when the documented service removes the tumor endoscopically.

Codes related to 50574

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 50574
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
50555Kidney endoscopyRenal endoscopy with biopsy; distinguish the applicable code by the documented access approach.$389.50–$535.78
50551Renal endoscopyRelated renal endoscopy code for diagnostic examination without the biopsy service.$341.55–$468.77
50562Renal endoscopyRenal endoscopy with tumor resection, rather than biopsy alone.No office rate

50574 billing questions

How is this code distinguished from 50555?

Both short descriptors identify renal endoscopy with biopsy. Use the code whose full descriptor matches the access approach documented in the operative report.

When is diagnostic renal endoscopy alone not enough?

When tissue is actually obtained during the endoscopic service, the biopsy distinguishes this service from a diagnostic-only renal endoscopy. Document the sampled site and specimen.

Is same-day care separately included?

The code has a 0-day global period, which includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care.

How are related renal endoscopies priced when performed together?

CMS endoscopy family pricing applies when related endoscopies are performed together. Document each service performed and the distinct work supported by the operative note.

Can modifier 50 be reported for bilateral performance?

Yes. CMS identifies this as a bilateral procedure; modifier 50 is paid at 150%.

Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted for this code.

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
RVUs for 50574PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,948 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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