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Billing code 50970: Ureter endoscopyMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports endoscopic examination of the ureter, with code selection guided by the operative approach and whether biopsy, treatment, or catheter work is performed.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities20 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $324.99 for 50970 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 50970

Ureter endoscopy

Work RVUs
6.95
Total RVUs
9.73
Global days
000

National rate · 2026

$324.99

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 50970 →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 50970 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 50970 covers

A urologist uses an endoscope to inspect the ureter, the passage that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder. The procedure is generally performed in a facility setting, where the operative report identifies the access route and the portion of the ureter examined. The 2024 Medicare volume data show facility services for this code and no office services.

Select the code that matches the documented endoscopic service and any separately described biopsy, treatment, or catheter work; nearby codes distinguish those services. The record should identify the indication, access route, findings, and work completed. This 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 50% reduction. Bilateral reporting with 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 50970 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

50970 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$304.10
Alaska*Unavailable$431.64
ArizonaUnavailable$318.72
ArkansasUnavailable$301.56
AtlantaUnavailable$332.73
AustinUnavailable$325.67
BakersfieldUnavailable$323.68
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$340.41
BeaumontUnavailable$317.21
BrazoriaUnavailable$319.67

50970 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
50970 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 50970 rate is calculated

Each of 50970’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 · 50970

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Work6.95

6.95 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense1.88

1.88 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.90

0.90 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

9.7300

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$324.99

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 50970

The CMS indicators that decide how 50970 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 50970

Ureter endoscopy

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
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

50970 without 50 · national facility

$324.99

Ureter endoscopy

50970-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$487.49

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

50970 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

  • 50970

    Ureter endoscopy6.95 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 50955

    Ureteroscopy6.57 wRVU

    $444.23

  • 50957

    Ureteroscopy6.61 wRVU

    $448.24

  • 50972

    Ureteroscopy6.71 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

50955Ureteroscopy
Consider this neighboring code when the operative report documents biopsy work during ureter endoscopy; this code represents the endoscopy service specified for 50970.
50957Ureteroscopy
This neighboring code describes ureter endoscopy with treatment work. Distinguish it from 50970 by the procedure actually documented.
50972Ureteroscopy
This code is associated with catheter work during ureter endoscopy. Use the operative details to determine whether that service, rather than the service specified by 50970, was performed.

Codes related to 50970

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

Codes related to 50970
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
50951UreteroscopyNearby ureter endoscopy code; use the operative details to distinguish the service.$356.17–$488.85
50953UreteroscopyAnother ureter endoscopy code with a distinct approach or service specification.$377.87–$518.92
50955UreteroscopyUreter endoscopy code associated with biopsy work.$402.77–$553.97
50957UreteroscopyUreter endoscopy code for an additional treatment service.$406.40–$558.82
50972UreteroscopyUreter endoscopy code associated with catheter work.No office rate
50974UreteroscopyAnother nearby ureter endoscopy code associated with biopsy.No office rate

50970 billing questions

How do I distinguish this code from the nearby endoscopy codes?

Use the operative report to identify the approach and whether the ureter was only examined or additional work was performed. Codes in the nearby family describe services such as biopsy, treatment, or catheter work.

Can I report a biopsy or treatment code with this examination?

Choose the code that represents the documented work performed rather than treating a biopsy or treatment as inherent in an examination. The operative note should specify the additional service.

How is bilateral ureter endoscopy reported under the CMS facts?

For a bilateral procedure, modifier 50 is paid at 150% under the stated CMS rule.

What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?

The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction.

What documentation supports assistant-at-surgery payment?

The record must document the medical necessity of the assistant. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted for this code under the stated CMS rules.

Does the 0-day global period include same-day care?

Yes. Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included in the 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
RVUs for 50970PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,010 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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