FeeBase
Log inGet started
Menu
On this page

CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

49424 in Austin

Office / nonfacility

$179.15

Base rate per service

Facility setting

$32.14

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.

Interventional radiology

About 49424: Contrast study of a cavity or sinus tract

Reports contrast injection and imaging to assess an existing abscess, cyst, or sinus tract, such as when evaluating a cavity reached through a drain.

A clinician injects contrast through an existing catheter or other access into an abscess cavity, cyst, or sinus tract, then obtains and interprets imaging to assess its shape, extent, or communication with nearby structures. This study is commonly performed by an interventional radiologist or another physician managing a percutaneous drain, in a hospital or outpatient setting. A sinogram through an established tract is a typical use; this code describes assessment, not placement of a new drainage catheter.

Report the study when documentation identifies the target cavity or tract, the reason for assessment, the contrast injection and imaging performed, and the findings. The service includes radiological supervision and interpretation. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

CMS billing rules for 49424

Global period
Minor procedure with a 0-day global period: same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included.
Multiple procedures
Standard multiple procedure reduction: the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50% when performed in the same session.
Bilateral procedures
Bilateral adjustment does not apply; the descriptor or anatomy makes modifier 50 inappropriate.
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 RVU0.74 · 14%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU4.31 · 84%
  • Malpractice RVU0.07 · 1%

13.9K

Medicare services in 2024 · #1295 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.

49424 compared with similar codes

Office rates for Austin, from the same CMS release.

49405

Visceral drainage

Percutaneous catheter placement

$876.57

Choose 49405 when placing a catheter to drain a visceral collection. Choose 49424 when injecting contrast to assess an existing cavity or tract.

49423

Drain catheter exchange

Fluoroscopic exchange

$577.74

49423 describes exchanging a drainage catheter. 49424 describes a contrast study of an abscess, cyst, or sinus tract.

49427

Shunt injection

Peritoneovenous shunt assessment

No office rate

49427 concerns injection assessment of an abdominal-venous shunt; 49424 assesses an abscess cavity, cyst, or sinus tract.

The same code, a different location

How does Austin compare?

In Beaumont, the office rate for 49424 is $157.89—$21.26 lower than the $179.15 rate in Austin. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

49424 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. Austin · This locality

    $179.15

  2. Beaumont

    $157.89

    $21.26 lower than Austin

  3. Brazoria

    $169.40

    $9.75 lower than Austin

  4. Dallas

    $170.33

    $8.82 lower than Austin

  5. Fort Worth

    $168.92

    $10.23 lower than Austin

  6. Galveston

    $169.80

    $9.35 lower than Austin

  7. Houston

    $171.08

    $8.07 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, 49424 ranges from $149.58 in Arkansas to $236.28 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 · 49424

    Office

    $163.44

    Facility

    $31.58

    $15.71 lower than Austin for the office setting.

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

    California · 49424

    Office

    $197.58

    Facility

    $33.21

    $18.43 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 49424

    Office

    $198.24

    Facility

    $34.56

    $19.09 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 49424

    Office

    $180.49

    Facility

    $35.85

    $1.34 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 49424

    Office

    $174.93

    Facility

    $35.29

    $4.22 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 49424

    Office

    $197.29

    Facility

    $35.83

    $18.14 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 49424

    Office

    $191.68

    Facility

    $43.70

    $12.53 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 49424

    Office

    $152.00

    Facility

    $30.42

    $27.15 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 49424

    Office

    $149.58

    Facility

    $30.22

    $29.57 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 49424

    Office

    $166.21

    Facility

    $31.57

    $12.94 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Bakersfield

    California · 49424

    Office

    $184.39

    Facility

    $32.10

    $5.24 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Chico

    California · 49424

    Office

    $184.17

    Facility

    $31.88

    $5.02 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • El Centro

    California · 49424

    Office

    $184.18

    Facility

    $31.89

    $5.03 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Fresno

    California · 49424

    Office

    $184.17

    Facility

    $31.88

    $5.02 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Hanford-Corcoran

    California · 49424

    Office

    $184.17

    Facility

    $31.88

    $5.02 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Madera

    California · 49424

    Office

    $184.17

    Facility

    $31.88

    $5.02 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Merced

    California · 49424

    Office

    $184.17

    Facility

    $31.88

    $5.02 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 49424

    Office

    $184.17

    Facility

    $31.88

    $5.02 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 49424

    Office

    $217.20

    Facility

    $34.06

    $38.05 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 49424

    Office

    $197.02

    Facility

    $32.79

    $17.87 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · 49424

    Office

    $184.17

    Facility

    $31.88

    $5.02 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 49424

    Office

    $184.17

    Facility

    $31.88

    $5.02 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 49424

    Office

    $184.93

    Facility

    $32.65

    $5.78 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 49424

    Office

    $194.28

    Facility

    $32.69

    $15.13 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 49424

    Office

    $193.58

    Facility

    $32.54

    $14.43 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 49424

    Office

    $198.90

    Facility

    $32.72

    $19.75 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 49424

    Office

    $231.12

    Facility

    $35.20

    $51.97 higher than Austin for the office setting.

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

    California · 49424

    Office

    $231.04

    Facility

    $35.12

    $51.89 higher than Austin for the office setting.

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

    California · 49424

    Office

    $236.28

    Facility

    $35.91

    $57.13 higher than Austin for the office setting.

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

    California · 49424

    Office

    $235.95

    Facility

    $35.59

    $56.80 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 49424

    Office

    $190.36

    Facility

    $32.10

    $11.21 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 49424

    Office

    $201.40

    Facility

    $32.58

    $22.25 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 49424

    Office

    $194.52

    Facility

    $32.50

    $15.37 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 49424

    Office

    $203.49

    Facility

    $32.86

    $24.34 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 49424

    Office

    $184.17

    Facility

    $31.88

    $5.02 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 49424

    Office

    $217.08

    Facility

    $33.95

    $37.93 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 49424

    Office

    $184.17

    Facility

    $31.88

    $5.02 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 49424

    Office

    $184.17

    Facility

    $31.88

    $5.02 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 49424

    Office

    $180.01

    Facility

    $32.17

    $0.86 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 49424

    Office

    $183.08

    Facility

    $33.44

    $3.93 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 49424

    Office

    $169.17

    Facility

    $31.89

    $9.98 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 49424

    Office

    $174.77

    Facility

    $34.02

    $4.38 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 49424

    Office

    $165.85

    Facility

    $33.02

    $13.30 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 49424

    Office

    $173.86

    Facility

    $32.69

    $5.29 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 49424

    Office

    $155.91

    Facility

    $31.97

    $23.24 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 49424

    Office

    $189.75

    Facility

    $31.77

    $10.60 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 49424

    Office

    $157.37

    Facility

    $30.23

    $21.78 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 49424

    Office

    $158.26

    Facility

    $30.43

    $20.89 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 49424

    Office

    $161.87

    Facility

    $34.03

    $17.28 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 49424

    Office

    $159.80

    Facility

    $32.95

    $19.35 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 49424

    Office

    $176.88

    Facility

    $34.18

    $2.27 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 49424

    Office

    $159.30

    Facility

    $30.50

    $19.85 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 49424

    Office

    $156.03

    Facility

    $30.42

    $23.12 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 49424

    Office

    $154.83

    Facility

    $31.31

    $24.32 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 49424

    Office

    $162.84

    Facility

    $32.09

    $16.31 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 49424

    Office

    $154.36

    Facility

    $31.39

    $24.79 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 49424

    Office

    $199.70

    Facility

    $33.79

    $20.55 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 49424

    Office

    $178.56

    Facility

    $32.25

    $0.59 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 49424

    Office

    $182.47

    Facility

    $33.38

    $3.32 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 49424

    Office

    $172.80

    Facility

    $32.18

    $6.35 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 49424

    Office

    $158.61

    Facility

    $30.78

    $20.54 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 49424

    Office

    $168.85

    Facility

    $31.16

    $10.30 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 49424

    Office

    $167.58

    Facility

    $33.49

    $11.57 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 49424

    Office

    $158.79

    Facility

    $31.93

    $20.36 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 49424

    Office

    $173.54

    Facility

    $30.56

    $5.61 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 49424

    Office

    $162.18

    Facility

    $31.71

    $16.97 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 49424

    Office

    $164.11

    Facility

    $31.83

    $15.04 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 49424

    Office

    $151.09

    Facility

    $31.31

    $28.06 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 49424

    Office

    $150.39

    Facility

    $30.76

    $28.76 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 49424

    Office

    $171.01

    Facility

    $32.06

    $8.14 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 49424

    Office

    $160.52

    Facility

    $30.89

    $18.63 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 49424

    Office

    $169.62

    Facility

    $30.68

    $9.53 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 49424

    Office

    $158.47

    Facility

    $30.22

    $20.68 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 49424

    Office

    $176.62

    Facility

    $31.98

    $2.53 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 49424

    Office

    $195.76

    Facility

    $34.58

    $16.61 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 49424

    Office

    $185.47

    Facility

    $33.74

    $6.32 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 49424

    Office

    $159.53

    Facility

    $32.12

    $19.62 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 49424

    Office

    $170.77

    Facility

    $31.68

    $8.38 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 49424

    Office

    $201.81

    Facility

    $36.60

    $22.66 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 49424

    Office

    $186.29

    Facility

    $34.14

    $7.14 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 49424

    Office

    $199.83

    Facility

    $35.59

    $20.68 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 49424

    Office

    $163.12

    Facility

    $31.12

    $16.03 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 49424

    Office

    $158.51

    Facility

    $31.65

    $20.64 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 49424

    Office

    $155.09

    Facility

    $31.01

    $24.06 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 49424

    Office

    $186.79

    Facility

    $32.42

    $7.64 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 49424

    Office

    $169.74

    Facility

    $31.35

    $9.41 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 49424

    Office

    $177.81

    Facility

    $33.17

    $1.34 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 49424

    Office

    $159.08

    Facility

    $31.53

    $20.07 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 49424

    Office

    $172.56

    Facility

    $32.08

    $6.59 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 49424

    Office

    $175.98

    Facility

    $32.45

    $3.17 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 49424

    Office

    $159.72

    Facility

    $31.33

    $19.43 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 49424

    Office

    $169.46

    Facility

    $30.51

    $9.69 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 49424

    Office

    $156.83

    Facility

    $30.53

    $22.32 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 49424

    Office

    $162.14

    Facility

    $31.53

    $17.01 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 49424

    Office

    $167.88

    Facility

    $31.29

    $11.27 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 49424

    Office

    $172.56

    Facility

    $32.08

    $6.59 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 49424

    Office

    $168.42

    Facility

    $30.86

    $10.73 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 49424

    Office

    $178.40

    Facility

    $32.09

    $0.75 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 49424

    Office

    $204.50

    Facility

    $34.01

    $25.35 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 49424

    Office

    $163.35

    Facility

    $30.24

    $15.80 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 49424

    Office

    $153.16

    Facility

    $32.42

    $25.99 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 49424

    Office

    $170.40

    Facility

    $31.46

    $8.75 lower than Austin for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

49424 · 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.

$149.58

$210.23

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

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$191.681
AL$152.001
AR$149.581
AZ$166.211
CA$184.17–$236.2829
CO$180.011
CT$183.081
DC$198.241
DE$169.171
FL$165.85–$180.493
GA$155.91–$173.862
GU$189.751
HI$189.751
IA$157.371
ID$158.261
IL$159.80–$176.884
IN$159.301
KS$156.031
KY$154.831
LA$154.36–$162.842
MA$178.56–$199.702
MD$172.80–$198.243
ME$158.61–$168.852
MI$158.79–$167.582
MN$173.541
MO$151.09–$164.113
MS$150.391
MT$171.011
NC$160.521
ND$169.621
NE$158.471
NH$176.621
NJ$185.47–$195.762
NM$159.531
NV$170.771
NY$163.12–$201.815
OH$158.511
OK$155.091
OR$169.74–$186.792
PA$159.08–$177.812
PR$172.561
RI$175.981
SC$159.721
SD$169.461
TN$156.831
TX$157.89–$179.158
UT$162.141
VA$167.88–$198.242
VI$172.561
VT$168.421
WA$178.40–$204.502
WI$163.351
WV$153.161
WY$170.401

Explore 49424 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 49424 in Austin, the physician’s office rate is $179.15 and the facility-setting rate is $32.14: a difference of $147.01.

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 49424 in Austin. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$197.07

$179.15 × 110% = $197.07

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 49424 in Austin.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

5,804

Code
49424
Physician work
0.74
Practice expense
4.31
Malpractice
0.07

GPCI2026.csv

96

Locality
Austin
Physician work
1.002
Practice expense
1.058
Malpractice
0.886
Office / nonfacility calculation for 49424 in Austin
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.74× 1.0020.7415
Practice expense4.31× 1.0584.5600
Malpractice0.07× 0.8860.0620
Total RVUs5.3635
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, Austin$179.15

Open 49424 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work0.741.002
Practice expense4.311.058
Malpractice0.070.886

(0.74 × 1.002 + 4.31 × 1.058 + 0.07 × 0.886) × $33.4009 = $179.15

Facility

Facility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work0.741.002
Practice expense0.151.058
Malpractice0.070.886

(0.74 × 1.002 + 0.15 × 1.058 + 0.07 × 0.886) × $33.4009 = $32.14

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

49424 · Office / nonfacility

$179.15

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $4.64 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $174.51 to $179.15 (2.7%).

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

    $174.51changed to$179.15

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.76 changed to 0.74
    • Practice expense RVU 4.37 changed to 4.31
    • 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: $174.51

    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$179.15$32.14RVU26D
2026-07-01$179.15$32.14RVU26C
2026-04-01$179.15$32.14RVU26B
2026-01-01$179.15$32.14RVU26A
2025-10-01$174.51$35.45RVU25D
2025-07-01$174.51$35.45RVU25C
2025-04-01$174.51$35.45RVU25B
2025-01-01$174.51$35.45RVU25A

49424 billing questions

When should I report this instead of a drainage-catheter placement code?

Report 49424 for contrast assessment of an existing cavity or tract. Codes 49405–49407 describe image-guided catheter placement to drain collections at specified sites.

Does this code include the imaging interpretation?

Yes. The service includes radiological supervision and interpretation along with the contrast injection.

Can I append modifier 50 for a study involving both sides?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code; modifier 50 should not be used.

How does the multiple-procedure rule affect payment?

For procedures performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others are subject to the standard 50% reduction.

What documentation supports reporting 49424?

Document the cavity or tract assessed, the clinical reason, the contrast injection and imaging, and the interpretation. The record should make clear that the study assessed an existing access or tract rather than placing a new drain.

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 49424PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,804 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for AustinGPCI2026.csv, line 96 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet