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CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

36555 in Austin

Office / nonfacility

$221.38

Base rate per service

Facility setting

$79.32

Base rate per service

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.

Central venous access

About 36555: Non-tunneled central venous catheter insertion under age five

Reports placement of a non-tunneled, centrally inserted venous catheter in a child younger than five, such as for intensive-care infusions or monitoring.

This service covers placement of a non-tunneled central venous catheter in a child younger than five. A physician or other qualified clinician may perform it in an operating room, intensive care unit, emergency department, or another setting requiring central access. Typical access routes include the internal jugular, subclavian, or femoral vein. The catheter provides central venous access for needs such as vasoactive medication, prolonged infusion, or hemodynamic monitoring; it is not a tunneled line, implanted port, or peripherally inserted catheter.

Select this code based on the patient’s age on the service date and the centrally inserted, non-tunneled catheter type. Documentation should identify the indication, catheter and access route, insertion, and the patient’s age. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay for an assistant-at-surgery service for this code, and co-surgeon and team-surgery reporting is not permitted.

CMS billing rules for 36555

Global period
Minor procedure with a 0-day global period: same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included.
Bilateral procedures
Bilateral adjustment does not apply; the descriptor or anatomy makes modifier 50 inappropriate.
Assistant at surgery
Statutory restriction: assistant at surgery is not paid.
Co-surgeons
Co-surgeons not permitted.
Team surgery
Team surgery not permitted.

Where the value comes from

  • Work RVU1.88 · 29%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU4.35 · 68%
  • Malpractice RVU0.16 · 3%

21

Medicare services in 2024 · #5893 by national volume

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.

36555 compared with similar codes

Office rates for Austin, from the same CMS release.

36556

Central line insertion

Age 5 years or older

$247.09

Both describe non-tunneled, centrally inserted central venous catheter placement. The age cutoff separates them: 36555 is for patients younger than five; 36556 is for patients age five or older.

36557

Tunneled catheter

Under age five, no port

$1,319.15

Use 36557 when the central catheter is tunneled in a patient younger than five. Code 36555 describes non-tunneled placement.

36568

PICC insertion

Under 5, no imaging

No office rate

Code 36568 describes PICC insertion in a patient younger than five. Code 36555 is for a centrally inserted, non-tunneled catheter.

The same code, a different location

How does Austin compare?

In Beaumont, the office rate for 36555 is $199.98—$21.40 lower than the $221.38 rate in Austin. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

36555 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. Austin · This locality

    $221.38

  2. Beaumont

    $199.98

    $21.40 lower than Austin

  3. Brazoria

    $211.45

    $9.93 lower than Austin

  4. Dallas

    $212.66

    $8.72 lower than Austin

  5. Fort Worth

    $211.27

    $10.11 lower than Austin

  6. Galveston

    $212.00

    $9.38 lower than Austin

  7. Houston

    $214.93

    $6.45 lower than Austin

Other payment areas listed in Texas appear first, followed by selected cross-country examples. The chart compares amounts, not distance.

Across 109 of 109 CMS payment localities with a supported office rate, 36555 ranges from $190.35 in Arkansas to $282.08 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty). This is a geographic range, not an average.

The code’s RVUs stay the same in these comparisons. Geographic adjustments to work, practice expense and malpractice change the dollar amount. A city name alone may not identify the payment area for a service address.

Compare all 108 other payment areas

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 36555

    Office

    $205.50

    Facility

    $78.08

    $15.88 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty)

    California · 36555

    Office

    $240.80

    Facility

    $81.96

    $19.42 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 36555

    Office

    $243.29

    Facility

    $85.12

    $21.91 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 36555

    Office

    $227.56

    Facility

    $87.78

    $6.18 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 36555

    Office

    $221.52

    Facility

    $86.58

    $0.14 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 36555

    Office

    $244.12

    Facility

    $88.10

    $22.74 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 36555

    Office

    $251.87

    Facility

    $108.87

    $30.49 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 36555

    Office

    $192.95

    Facility

    $75.46

    $28.43 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 36555

    Office

    $190.35

    Facility

    $75.01

    $31.03 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 36555

    Office

    $208.16

    Facility

    $78.05

    $13.22 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Bakersfield

    California · 36555

    Office

    $226.48

    Facility

    $79.32

    $5.10 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Chico

    California · 36555

    Office

    $225.97

    Facility

    $78.81

    $4.59 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • El Centro

    California · 36555

    Office

    $225.99

    Facility

    $78.83

    $4.61 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Fresno

    California · 36555

    Office

    $225.97

    Facility

    $78.81

    $4.59 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Hanford-Corcoran

    California · 36555

    Office

    $225.97

    Facility

    $78.81

    $4.59 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Madera

    California · 36555

    Office

    $225.97

    Facility

    $78.81

    $4.59 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Merced

    California · 36555

    Office

    $225.97

    Facility

    $78.81

    $4.59 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 36555

    Office

    $225.97

    Facility

    $78.81

    $4.59 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 36555

    Office

    $260.96

    Facility

    $83.99

    $39.58 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 36555

    Office

    $239.62

    Facility

    $80.91

    $18.24 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · 36555

    Office

    $225.97

    Facility

    $78.81

    $4.59 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 36555

    Office

    $225.97

    Facility

    $78.81

    $4.59 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 36555

    Office

    $227.72

    Facility

    $80.56

    $6.34 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 36555

    Office

    $236.90

    Facility

    $80.74

    $15.52 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 36555

    Office

    $236.00

    Facility

    $80.38

    $14.62 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 36555

    Office

    $241.35

    Facility

    $80.76

    $19.97 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 36555

    Office

    $276.08

    Facility

    $86.75

    $54.70 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty)

    California · 36555

    Office

    $275.89

    Facility

    $86.57

    $54.51 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty)

    California · 36555

    Office

    $282.08

    Facility

    $88.46

    $60.70 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty)

    California · 36555

    Office

    $281.34

    Facility

    $87.72

    $59.96 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 36555

    Office

    $232.22

    Facility

    $79.28

    $10.84 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 36555

    Office

    $243.51

    Facility

    $80.37

    $22.13 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 36555

    Office

    $236.83

    Facility

    $80.27

    $15.45 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 36555

    Office

    $245.96

    Facility

    $81.08

    $24.58 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 36555

    Office

    $225.97

    Facility

    $78.81

    $4.59 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 36555

    Office

    $260.70

    Facility

    $83.73

    $39.32 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 36555

    Office

    $225.97

    Facility

    $78.81

    $4.59 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 36555

    Office

    $225.97

    Facility

    $78.81

    $4.59 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 36555

    Office

    $222.31

    Facility

    $79.45

    $0.93 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 36555

    Office

    $227.00

    Facility

    $82.39

    $5.62 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 36555

    Office

    $211.46

    Facility

    $78.80

    $9.92 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 36555

    Office

    $219.64

    Facility

    $83.62

    $1.74 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 36555

    Office

    $209.73

    Facility

    $81.36

    $11.65 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 36555

    Office

    $217.02

    Facility

    $80.60

    $4.36 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 36555

    Office

    $198.77

    Facility

    $79.00

    $22.61 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 36555

    Office

    $231.09

    Facility

    $78.42

    $9.71 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 36555

    Office

    $197.86

    Facility

    $75.00

    $23.52 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 36555

    Office

    $198.99

    Facility

    $75.46

    $22.39 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 36555

    Office

    $207.23

    Facility

    $83.70

    $14.15 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 36555

    Office

    $203.80

    Facility

    $81.21

    $17.58 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 36555

    Office

    $221.92

    Facility

    $84.02

    $0.54 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 36555

    Office

    $200.08

    Facility

    $75.61

    $21.30 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 36555

    Office

    $196.83

    Facility

    $75.45

    $24.55 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 36555

    Office

    $196.85

    Facility

    $77.48

    $24.53 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 36555

    Office

    $205.59

    Facility

    $79.24

    $15.79 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 36555

    Office

    $196.50

    Facility

    $77.67

    $24.88 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 36555

    Office

    $243.61

    Facility

    $83.29

    $22.23 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 36555

    Office

    $221.05

    Facility

    $79.66

    $0.33 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 36555

    Office

    $226.31

    Facility

    $82.24

    $4.93 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 36555

    Office

    $215.36

    Facility

    $79.48

    $6.02 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 36555

    Office

    $199.79

    Facility

    $76.26

    $21.59 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 36555

    Office

    $210.15

    Facility

    $77.09

    $11.23 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 36555

    Office

    $212.01

    Facility

    $82.44

    $9.37 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 36555

    Office

    $201.48

    Facility

    $78.89

    $19.90 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 36555

    Office

    $213.88

    Facility

    $75.72

    $7.50 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 36555

    Office

    $204.45

    Facility

    $78.36

    $16.93 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 36555

    Office

    $206.47

    Facility

    $78.64

    $14.91 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 36555

    Office

    $193.24

    Facility

    $77.50

    $28.14 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 36555

    Office

    $191.84

    Facility

    $76.23

    $29.54 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 36555

    Office

    $213.42

    Facility

    $79.15

    $7.96 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 36555

    Office

    $201.77

    Facility

    $76.49

    $19.61 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 36555

    Office

    $210.26

    Facility

    $75.99

    $11.12 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 36555

    Office

    $198.92

    Facility

    $74.99

    $22.46 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 36555

    Office

    $218.72

    Facility

    $78.94

    $2.66 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 36555

    Office

    $241.00

    Facility

    $85.24

    $19.62 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 36555

    Office

    $229.83

    Facility

    $83.20

    $8.45 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 36555

    Office

    $202.45

    Facility

    $79.32

    $18.93 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 36555

    Office

    $212.68

    Facility

    $78.28

    $8.70 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 36555

    Office

    $249.49

    Facility

    $89.84

    $28.11 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 36555

    Office

    $231.18

    Facility

    $84.16

    $9.80 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 36555

    Office

    $246.26

    Facility

    $87.55

    $24.88 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 36555

    Office

    $204.58

    Facility

    $77.02

    $16.80 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 36555

    Office

    $200.83

    Facility

    $78.24

    $20.55 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 36555

    Office

    $196.69

    Facility

    $76.79

    $24.69 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 36555

    Office

    $229.20

    Facility

    $80.02

    $7.82 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 36555

    Office

    $211.26

    Facility

    $77.53

    $10.12 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 36555

    Office

    $221.55

    Facility

    $81.77

    $0.17 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 36555

    Office

    $201.22

    Facility

    $77.96

    $20.16 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 36555

    Office

    $214.95

    Facility

    $79.20

    $6.43 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 36555

    Office

    $218.84

    Facility

    $80.14

    $2.54 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 36555

    Office

    $201.59

    Facility

    $77.52

    $19.79 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 36555

    Office

    $209.88

    Facility

    $75.61

    $11.50 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 36555

    Office

    $197.74

    Facility

    $75.68

    $23.64 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 36555

    Office

    $204.17

    Facility

    $77.95

    $17.21 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 36555

    Office

    $209.39

    Facility

    $77.40

    $11.99 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 36555

    Office

    $214.95

    Facility

    $79.20

    $6.43 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 36555

    Office

    $209.34

    Facility

    $76.41

    $12.04 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 36555

    Office

    $220.67

    Facility

    $79.28

    $0.71 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 36555

    Office

    $248.58

    Facility

    $83.82

    $27.20 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 36555

    Office

    $203.63

    Facility

    $75.00

    $17.75 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 36555

    Office

    $196.70

    Facility

    $80.02

    $24.68 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 36555

    Office

    $212.04

    Facility

    $77.77

    $9.34 lower than Austin for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

36555 · Office / nonfacility · Non-QP. Choose a state to explore its payment localities. A range means the amount varies within that state.

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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.

$190.35

$254.02

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$251.871
AL$192.951
AR$190.351
AZ$208.161
CA$225.97–$282.0829
CO$222.311
CT$227.001
DC$243.291
DE$211.461
FL$209.73–$227.563
GA$198.77–$217.022
GU$231.091
HI$231.091
IA$197.861
ID$198.991
IL$203.80–$221.924
IN$200.081
KS$196.831
KY$196.851
LA$196.50–$205.592
MA$221.05–$243.612
MD$215.36–$243.293
ME$199.79–$210.152
MI$201.48–$212.012
MN$213.881
MO$193.24–$206.473
MS$191.841
MT$213.421
NC$201.771
ND$210.261
NE$198.921
NH$218.721
NJ$229.83–$241.002
NM$202.451
NV$212.681
NY$204.58–$249.495
OH$200.831
OK$196.691
OR$211.26–$229.202
PA$201.22–$221.552
PR$214.951
RI$218.841
SC$201.591
SD$209.881
TN$197.741
TX$199.98–$221.388
UT$204.171
VA$209.39–$243.292
VI$214.951
VT$209.341
WA$220.67–$248.582
WI$203.631
WV$196.701
WY$212.041

Explore 36555 on the national rate map →

Where does this rate apply?

Austin is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 31 cities and communities in Texas, including the examples shown here.

Some communities span more than one payment area. Follow a city link to compare all of its mapped areas, or check the service-location ZIP above for an address-level starting point.

Browse all communities in Texas →

Why are the office and facility amounts different?

For 36555 in Austin, the physician’s office rate is $221.38 and the facility-setting rate is $79.32: a difference of $142.06.

The calculation uses a different practice-expense RVU for each setting. Both amounts here are physician fee-schedule amounts. The facility figure does not include a hospital’s separate charges, so this comparison does not tell you the total cost of receiving care in each setting.

See the inputs behind this difference →

Use this rate

What is a percentage of Medicare worth?

Turn a percentage into dollars for 36555 in Austin. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$243.52

$221.38 × 110% = $243.52

A contract may specify another Medicare year or additional adjustments. This is percentage arithmetic on the displayed base rate, not a claim adjudication.

Working with a whole code list?

Compare an offer across your annual code mix, including an older Medicare schedule or flat per-code rates.

Compare your contract offer →

How this local rate is calculated

Each RVU component is multiplied by its own geographic practice cost index (GPCI). The three adjusted components are added, then multiplied by the conversion factor. These are the inputs used for 36555 in Austin.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

4,504

Code
36555
Physician work
1.88
Practice expense
4.35
Malpractice
0.16

GPCI2026.csv

96

Locality
Austin
Physician work
1.002
Practice expense
1.058
Malpractice
0.886
Office / nonfacility calculation for 36555 in Austin
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.88× 1.0021.8838
Practice expense4.35× 1.0584.6023
Malpractice0.16× 0.8860.1418
Total RVUs6.6278
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, Austin$221.38

Open 36555 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work1.881.002
Practice expense4.351.058
Malpractice0.160.886

(1.88 × 1.002 + 4.35 × 1.058 + 0.16 × 0.886) × $33.4009 = $221.38

Facility

Facility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work1.881.002
Practice expense0.331.058
Malpractice0.160.886

(1.88 × 1.002 + 0.33 × 1.058 + 0.16 × 0.886) × $33.4009 = $79.32

The office and facility calculations use their respective practice-expense RVUs. The facility amount here is the physician fee, not a separate hospital or facility bill.

How this rate has changed

36555 · Office / nonfacility

$221.38

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $38.51 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $182.87 to $221.38 (21.1%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $182.87changed to$221.38

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.93 changed to 1.88
    • Practice expense RVU 3.42 changed to 4.35
    • Work GPCI 1.000 changed to 1.002
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.046 changed to 1.058
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.914 changed to 0.886

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    Earliest loaded release: $182.87

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

Explore release dates and calculate this code in an earlier period →

Each row uses the accepted CMS release effective on that date and the same contractor and locality identifiers. Missing rates stay visible. Historical boundaries may differ; verify the service address for an older claim.

Inspect every release and its CMS source
Effective fromOffice / nonfacilityFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$221.38$79.32RVU26D
2026-07-01$221.38$79.32RVU26C
2026-04-01$221.38$79.32RVU26B
2026-01-01$221.38$79.32RVU26A
2025-10-01$182.87$80.69RVU25D
2025-07-01$182.87$80.69RVU25C
2025-04-01$182.87$80.69RVU25B
2025-01-01$182.87$80.69RVU25A

36555 billing questions

When should 36555 be used instead of 36556?

Use 36555 for a non-tunneled, centrally inserted central venous catheter in a patient younger than five. Code 36556 is the corresponding age-five-and-older code.

How is this different from a tunneled catheter insertion?

The catheter reported with 36555 is not tunneled beneath the skin. A tunneled central catheter in a child younger than five is reported with 36557.

Is a PICC reported with 36555?

No. A peripherally inserted central catheter is classified separately; 36568 is the PICC insertion code for a patient younger than five.

What documentation supports reporting 36555?

Document the patient’s age, the need for central venous access, the non-tunneled catheter, the insertion, and the access route.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported for this service?

Medicare does not pay an assistant-at-surgery service for 36555. Co-surgeon and team-surgery reporting 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.

RVUs for 36555PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 4,504 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for AustinGPCI2026.csv, line 96 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet