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Billing code 52344: Stricture treatmentMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports endoscopic treatment of a ureteral narrowing when a ureteroscope or pyeloscope is used to visualize and treat the stricture.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities3.1K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $324.66 for 52344 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 52344

Stricture treatment

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
6.87
Total RVUs
9.72
Global days
000

National rate · 2026

$324.66

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 52344 → · 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 52344 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 52344 covers

A urologist uses cystoscopy to access the ureter, then advances a ureteroscope or pyeloscope to directly visualize a ureteral stricture. Treatment may include dilation or an endoscopic incision, such as with a laser or electrocautery. The procedure is typically performed in a surgical facility for a narrowing that obstructs or impedes urine flow; the operative note should identify the stricture site and describe the endoscopic treatment performed.

Select this code when the treated narrowing is in the ureter and ureteroscopy and/or pyeloscopy is part of the procedure. Document the scope used, the location and laterality of the stricture, and the treatment method. 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%. Assistant-at-surgery services are not paid; 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 52344 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

52344 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$303.57
Alaska*Unavailable$430.30
ArizonaUnavailable$318.35
ArkansasUnavailable$301.01
AtlantaUnavailable$332.37
AustinUnavailable$325.52
BakersfieldUnavailable$323.68
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$340.15
BeaumontUnavailable$316.65
BrazoriaUnavailable$319.36

52344 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
52344 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 52344 rate is calculated

Each of 52344’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 · 52344

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 6.87Practice expense 1.96Malpractice 0.89

9.7200 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$324.66

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 52344

The CMS indicators that decide how 52344 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 52344

Stricture treatment

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)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
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

52344 without 50 · national facility

$324.66

Stricture treatment

52344-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$486.99

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

52344 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

52344 vs 52341 vs 52345 vs 52346: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 52344
    Stricture treatment · 6.87 wRVU
    —
  • 52341
    Ureteral stricture treatment · 5.22 wRVU
    —
  • 52345
    UPJ stricture incision · 7.36 wRVU
    —
  • 52346
    Renal stricture treatment · 8.37 wRVU
    —

How to choose

52341Ureteral stricture treatment
Both address a ureteral stricture, but 52344 includes ureteroscopy and/or pyeloscopy. Choose 52341 when that component is not performed.
52345UPJ stricture incision
This code is for treatment of a ureteropelvic junction stricture with ureteroscopy and/or pyeloscopy; 52344 is for a ureteral stricture.
52346Renal stricture treatment
This code is for treatment of a renal pelvis stricture with ureteroscopy and/or pyeloscopy. Use 52344 when the treated stricture is in the ureter.

Codes related to 52344

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

Codes related to 52344
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Used instead
52341Ureteral stricture treatmentUreteral stricture treatment without the ureteroscopy and/or pyeloscopy component.No office rate
52342UPJ stricture treatmentTreatment of a ureteropelvic junction stricture without the ureteroscopic or pyeloscopic component.No office rate
52343Renal stricture treatmentTreatment of a renal pelvis stricture without the ureteroscopic or pyeloscopic component.No office rate
Same family
52345UPJ stricture incisionUreteroscopic or pyeloscopic treatment of a stricture at the ureteropelvic junction.No office rate
52346Renal stricture treatmentUreteroscopic or pyeloscopic treatment of a renal pelvis stricture.No office rate

52344 billing questions

How is this different from 52341?

Use 52344 when the ureteral stricture is treated with ureteroscopy and/or pyeloscopy. Code 52341 represents ureteral stricture treatment without that ureteroscopic or pyeloscopic component.

Which code applies to a ureteropelvic junction stricture?

For treatment of a stricture at the ureteropelvic junction with ureteroscopy and/or pyeloscopy, consider 52345 rather than 52344. The documented stricture site determines the choice.

What should the operative note document?

Document the ureteral stricture's location and laterality, the use of ureteroscopy and/or pyeloscopy, and the treatment performed, such as dilation or incision.

How are related endoscopies priced when performed together?

CMS endoscopy family pricing applies when related endoscopies are performed together. The claim should reflect the procedures actually performed and documented.

Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral treatment?

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

Is assistant-at-surgery payment available?

No. CMS lists a statutory restriction on assistant-at-surgery payment 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 52344PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,147 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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