No office rate
50970 represents diagnostic ureteroscopy. Use 50976 when the procedure includes the therapeutic service supported by its code descriptor, not inspection alone.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
50976 Ureteroscopy Medicare reimbursement rates
Reports endoscopic treatment performed within the ureter, rather than ureteroscopic inspection or biopsy alone, when the documented service matches this code. Compare 50976 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities.
Amounts below use the non-QP conversion factor for participating physicians. These are base physician payments before claim-level adjustments, not patient costs or total hospital charges.
What does Medicare pay for 50976?
The service location and office or facility setting determine which base rate applies. These are the supported base rates for the 109 payment areas shown below, using the same CMS release.
Office / nonfacility
No supported rate
These are locality ranges, not averages or address-specific quotes. A facility-setting amount covers the physician service; it does not include a hospital’s separate bill. Choose a locality below to inspect its calculation, compare other payment areas, or price a percentage of Medicare.
Where 50976 pays more and less
Urology
About 50976: Ureteroscopic treatment procedure
Reports endoscopic treatment performed within the ureter, rather than ureteroscopic inspection or biopsy alone, when the documented service matches this code.
A urologist uses a ureteroscope to perform a therapeutic procedure within the ureter. The endoscope provides direct visualization and access through the urinary tract; the clinical record should identify the condition treated and the work performed. This service is typically provided in an operating room or endoscopy setting when ureteroscopic treatment is required, rather than for inspection or tissue sampling alone.
Report 50976 when the operative documentation supports the therapeutic service represented by this code. It has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When related endoscopies are performed together, CMS applies endoscopy family pricing. For bilateral services, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
CMS billing rules for 50976
- Global period
- Minor procedure with a 0-day global period: same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included.
- Multiple procedures
- Endoscopy family pricing applies when related endoscopies are performed together.
- Bilateral procedures
- Bilateral procedure with modifier 50 is paid at 150%.
- Assistant at surgery
- Assistant at surgery is paid only with documentation of medical necessity.
- Co-surgeons
- Co-surgeons not permitted.
- Team surgery
- Team surgery not permitted.
Where the value comes from
- Work RVU8.80 · 72%
- Practice expense (office) RVU2.27 · 19%
- Malpractice RVU1.14 · 9%
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.
50976 compared with similar codes
Office rate ranges across all CMS payment localities, from the same CMS release.
No office rate
50974 is for ureteroscopy with biopsy. It is not the choice for a therapeutic procedure merely because tissue is inspected during treatment.
No office rate
50972 describes ureteroscopy with a catheter service. Distinguish it from 50976 by the actual work documented in the operative report.
See how rates vary across the country
50976 · Office / nonfacility · Non-QP. Choose a state to explore its payment localities. A range means the amount varies within that state.
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.
View all state and territory rates as a table
| State / territory | Rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | No published base rate | 1 |
| AL | No published base rate | 1 |
| AR | No published base rate | 1 |
| AZ | No published base rate | 1 |
| CA | No published base rate | 29 |
| CO | No published base rate | 1 |
| CT | No published base rate | 1 |
| DC | No published base rate | 1 |
| DE | No published base rate | 1 |
| FL | No published base rate | 3 |
| GA | No published base rate | 2 |
| GU | No published base rate | 1 |
| HI | No published base rate | 1 |
| IA | No published base rate | 1 |
| ID | No published base rate | 1 |
| IL | No published base rate | 4 |
| IN | No published base rate | 1 |
| KS | No published base rate | 1 |
| KY | No published base rate | 1 |
| LA | No published base rate | 2 |
| MA | No published base rate | 2 |
| MD | No published base rate | 3 |
| ME | No published base rate | 2 |
| MI | No published base rate | 2 |
| MN | No published base rate | 1 |
| MO | No published base rate | 3 |
| MS | No published base rate | 1 |
| MT | No published base rate | 1 |
| NC | No published base rate | 1 |
| ND | No published base rate | 1 |
| NE | No published base rate | 1 |
| NH | No published base rate | 1 |
| NJ | No published base rate | 2 |
| NM | No published base rate | 1 |
| NV | No published base rate | 1 |
| NY | No published base rate | 5 |
| OH | No published base rate | 1 |
| OK | No published base rate | 1 |
| OR | No published base rate | 2 |
| PA | No published base rate | 2 |
| PR | No published base rate | 1 |
| RI | No published base rate | 1 |
| SC | No published base rate | 1 |
| SD | No published base rate | 1 |
| TN | No published base rate | 1 |
| TX | No published base rate | 8 |
| UT | No published base rate | 1 |
| VA | No published base rate | 2 |
| VI | No published base rate | 1 |
| VT | No published base rate | 1 |
| WA | No published base rate | 2 |
| WI | No published base rate | 1 |
| WV | No published base rate | 1 |
| WY | No published base rate | 1 |
Compare 50976 by payment locality
Find the payment area for your service address, then open its rate page for calculation inputs, release history and the percentage-of-Medicare tool. A city may cross payment-area boundaries; the ZIP lookup above helps resolve the location.
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Office Unavailable | Facility $381.82 |
| Alaska* | Office Unavailable | Facility $542.62 |
| Arizona | Office Unavailable | Facility $399.99 |
| Arkansas | Office Unavailable | Facility $378.67 |
| Atlanta | Office Unavailable | Facility $417.57 |
| Austin | Office Unavailable | Facility $408.47 |
| Bakersfield | Office Unavailable | Facility $405.80 |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | Office Unavailable | Facility $427.09 |
| Beaumont | Office Unavailable | Facility $398.30 |
| Brazoria | Office Unavailable | Facility $401.12 |
| Chicago | Office Unavailable | Facility $459.57 |
| Chico | Office Unavailable | Facility $402.43 |
| Colorado | Office Unavailable | Facility $407.87 |
| Connecticut | Office Unavailable | Facility $427.54 |
| Dallas | Office Unavailable | Facility $404.76 |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | Office Unavailable | Facility $441.50 |
| Delaware | Office Unavailable | Facility $404.54 |
| Detroit | Office Unavailable | Facility $431.29 |
| East St. Louis | Office Unavailable | Facility $440.37 |
| El Centro | Office Unavailable | Facility $402.62 |
| Fort Lauderdale | Office Unavailable | Facility $439.58 |
| Fort Worth | Office Unavailable | Facility $404.50 |
| Fresno | Office Unavailable | Facility $402.43 |
| Galveston | Office Unavailable | Facility $403.10 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | Office Unavailable | Facility $402.43 |
| Hawaii, Guam | Office Unavailable | Facility $402.18 |
| Houston | Office Unavailable | Facility $423.96 |
| Idaho | Office Unavailable | Facility $381.69 |
| Indiana | Office Unavailable | Facility $382.72 |
| Iowa | Office Unavailable | Facility $378.42 |
| Kansas | Office Unavailable | Facility $381.66 |
| Kentucky | Office Unavailable | Facility $396.17 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | Office Unavailable | Facility $420.96 |
| Madera | Office Unavailable | Facility $402.43 |
| Manhattan | Office Unavailable | Facility $461.23 |
| Merced | Office Unavailable | Facility $402.43 |
| Metropolitan Boston | Office Unavailable | Facility $430.40 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | Office Unavailable | Facility $402.32 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | Office Unavailable | Facility $423.57 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | Office Unavailable | Facility $404.26 |
| Miami | Office Unavailable | Facility $469.15 |
| Minnesota | Office Unavailable | Facility $383.22 |
| Mississippi | Office Unavailable | Facility $387.35 |
| Modesto | Office Unavailable | Facility $402.43 |
| Montana** | Office Unavailable | Facility $407.75 |
| Napa | Office Unavailable | Facility $431.72 |
| Nebraska | Office Unavailable | Facility $378.30 |
| Nevada** | Office Unavailable | Facility $401.54 |
| New Hampshire | Office Unavailable | Facility $406.17 |
| New Mexico | Office Unavailable | Facility $409.19 |
| New Orleans | Office Unavailable | Facility $408.53 |
| North Carolina | Office Unavailable | Facility $389.00 |
| North Dakota** | Office Unavailable | Facility $385.21 |
| Northern Nj | Office Unavailable | Facility $441.06 |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | Office Unavailable | Facility $473.60 |
| Ohio | Office Unavailable | Facility $401.53 |
| Oklahoma | Office Unavailable | Facility $391.22 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | Office Unavailable | Facility $415.50 |
| Portland | Office Unavailable | Facility $411.20 |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | Office Unavailable | Facility $436.25 |
| Puerto Rico | Office Unavailable | Facility $408.09 |
| Queens | Office Unavailable | Facility $457.27 |
| Redding | Office Unavailable | Facility $402.43 |
| Rest Of California | Office Unavailable | Facility $402.43 |
| Rest Of Florida | Office Unavailable | Facility $423.64 |
| Rest Of Georgia | Office Unavailable | Facility $406.95 |
| Rest Of Illinois | Office Unavailable | Facility $422.67 |
| Rest Of Louisiana | Office Unavailable | Facility $397.51 |
| Rest Of Maine | Office Unavailable | Facility $387.37 |
| Rest Of Maryland | Office Unavailable | Facility $408.55 |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | Office Unavailable | Facility $408.82 |
| Rest Of Michigan | Office Unavailable | Facility $406.14 |
| Rest Of Missouri | Office Unavailable | Facility $396.37 |
| Rest Of New Jersey | Office Unavailable | Facility $430.25 |
| Rest Of New York | Office Unavailable | Facility $392.73 |
| Rest Of Oregon | Office Unavailable | Facility $396.21 |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | Office Unavailable | Facility $399.51 |
| Rest Of Texas | Office Unavailable | Facility $400.26 |
| Rest Of Washington | Office Unavailable | Facility $406.56 |
| Rhode Island | Office Unavailable | Facility $411.80 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | Office Unavailable | Facility $414.80 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | Office Unavailable | Facility $413.10 |
| Salinas | Office Unavailable | Facility $411.32 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | Office Unavailable | Facility $414.06 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | Office Unavailable | Facility $446.23 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | Office Unavailable | Facility $444.94 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | Office Unavailable | Facility $456.00 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | Office Unavailable | Facility $450.71 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | Office Unavailable | Facility $405.69 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | Office Unavailable | Facility $412.63 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | Office Unavailable | Facility $410.97 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | Office Unavailable | Facility $416.26 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | Office Unavailable | Facility $432.76 |
| South Carolina | Office Unavailable | Facility $396.35 |
| South Dakota** | Office Unavailable | Facility $382.54 |
| Southern Maine | Office Unavailable | Facility $393.09 |
| Stockton | Office Unavailable | Facility $402.43 |
| Suburban Chicago | Office Unavailable | Facility $441.33 |
| Tennessee | Office Unavailable | Facility $383.30 |
| Utah | Office Unavailable | Facility $399.39 |
| Vallejo | Office Unavailable | Facility $429.85 |
| Vermont | Office Unavailable | Facility $388.26 |
| Virgin Islands | Office Unavailable | Facility $408.09 |
| Virginia | Office Unavailable | Facility $395.34 |
| Visalia | Office Unavailable | Facility $402.43 |
| West Virginia | Office Unavailable | Facility $414.30 |
| Wisconsin | Office Unavailable | Facility $378.29 |
| Wyoming** | Office Unavailable | Facility $397.92 |
| Yuba City | Office Unavailable | Facility $402.43 |
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50976 billing questions
How does 50976 differ from diagnostic ureteroscopy?
50976 represents ureteroscopic treatment, while 50970 is the diagnostic ureteroscopy code. The operative note should support treatment beyond inspection.
Should 50976 be used when the ureter is biopsied?
Use the biopsy code, 50974, when the service is ureteroscopic tissue sampling. Report 50976 when the documented service is the therapeutic procedure represented by that code.
How are related ureteroscopic procedures paid when performed together?
CMS applies endoscopy family pricing when related endoscopies are performed together. Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included in the 0-day global period.
How should bilateral treatment be reported?
For bilateral services, report modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
Where these rates come from
FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense, and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indices and the applicable conversion factor. Unavailable or separately priced services are labeled rather than assigned a made-up amount.
Source: RVU26D. Effective 2026-10-01 through the day before 2027-01-01.
6,01050970,,Ureter endoscopy,A,,6.95,1.88,NA,1.88,,0.90,9.73,9.73,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,1,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
6,01150972,,Ureter endoscopy & catheter,A,,6.71,1.83,NA,1.83,,0.87,9.41,9.41,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,1,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
6,01250974,,Ureter endoscopy & biopsy,A,,8.93,2.30,NA,2.30,,1.15,12.38,12.38,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,3,1,0,0,0,9,50970,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
6,01350976,,Ureter endoscopy & treatment,A,,8.80,2.27,NA,2.27,,1.14,12.21,12.21,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,3,1,0,0,0,9,50970,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
6,01450980,,Ureter endoscopy & treatment,A,,6.67,1.82,NA,1.82,,0.86,9.35,9.35,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,1,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
6,0155100F,,Rsk fx ref w/n 24 hrs xray,I,,0.00,0.00,,0.00,,0.00,0.00,0.00,9,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,9,9,9,9,9,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
6,01651020,,Cystotomy/cystostomy w/fulg,A,,7.50,4.56,NA,4.56,,0.98,13.04,13.04,0,090,0.08,0.83,0.09,2,0,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00