$1,144.08
Use 36215 when the catheter reaches a first-order branch; use 36216 when it is advanced into a second-order branch.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
36216 in El Centro
Office / nonfacility
$1149.74
Base rate per service
Facility setting
$232.36
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.
Vascular procedures
About 36216: Second-order thoracic arterial catheter placement
Reports selective catheter placement into a second-order thoracic or brachiocephalic arterial branch during a diagnostic or interventional vascular procedure.
A physician advances a catheter through an arterial route into a second-order branch in the thoracic or brachiocephalic arterial distribution. This selective positioning may support angiography or an endovascular procedure, commonly in a hospital catheterization or angiography suite. Interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons, and other physicians performing catheter-based vascular services may report the placement when the documented catheter path reaches this branch level.
Choose the code from the vessel hierarchy and the catheter tip’s destination, not from the number of imaging runs or the clinical diagnosis. The record should identify the access route, vessels traversed, target branch, and related imaging or intervention. The procedure has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures occur in one session, CMS pays the highest-valued procedure in full and reduces others under its standard multiple procedure rule. Modifier 50 is inappropriate; assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted, and co-surgeon and team-surgery billing are not permitted.
CMS billing rules for 36216
- 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
- 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 RVU5.14 · 16%
- Practice expense (office) RVU26.08 · 81%
- Malpractice RVU1.13 · 3%
2.5K
Medicare services in 2024 · #2302 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.
36216 compared with similar codes
Office rates for El Centro, from the same CMS release.
$2,121.16
Use 36217 when the catheter reaches a third-order or more selective branch, rather than stopping at the second-order level represented by 36216.
$245.38
36218 reports an additional qualifying branch after the initial selective placement; 36216 identifies the second-order placement itself.
$1,342.59
36222 is for a defined cervicocerebral angiography service that includes catheter placement. Do not use 36216 to separately represent placement already included in that service.
The same code, a different location
How does El Centro compare?
In Bakersfield, the office rate for 36216 is $1152.65—$2.91 higher than the $1149.74 rate in El Centro. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.
36216 across payment areas
Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0
El Centro · This locality
$1149.74
$1152.65
$2.91 higher than El Centro
$1149.55
$0.19 lower than El Centro
$1149.55
$0.19 lower than El Centro
$1149.55
$0.19 lower than El Centro
$84.55 higher than El Centro
$1149.55
$0.19 lower than El Centro
Other payment areas listed in California 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, 36216 ranges from $939.39 in Arkansas to $1466.92 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
Merced
California · 36216
Office
$1149.55
Facility
$232.17
$0.19 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Modesto
California · 36216
Office
$1149.55
Facility
$232.17
$0.19 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Napa
California · 36216
Office
$1349.77
Facility
$246.57
$200.03 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura
California · 36216
Office
$1229.64
Facility
$240.27
$79.90 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Redding
California · 36216
Office
$1149.55
Facility
$232.17
$0.19 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of California
California · 36216
Office
$1149.55
Facility
$232.17
$0.19 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
California · 36216
Office
$1161.69
Facility
$244.31
$11.95 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
California · 36216
Office
$1211.18
Facility
$237.71
$61.44 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Salinas
California · 36216
Office
$1206.83
Facility
$236.72
$57.09 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
California · 36216
Office
$1239.12
Facility
$238.03
$89.38 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)
California · 36216
Office
$1433.56
Facility
$253.35
$283.82 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty)
California · 36216
Office
$1432.28
Facility
$252.07
$282.54 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty)
California · 36216
Office
$1466.92
Facility
$259.92
$317.18 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty)
California · 36216
Office
$1461.67
Facility
$254.68
$311.93 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
California · 36216
Office
$1187.01
Facility
$233.63
$37.27 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Santa Cruz-Watsonville
California · 36216
Office
$1253.90
Facility
$236.91
$104.16 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
California · 36216
Office
$1212.42
Facility
$236.44
$62.68 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
California · 36216
Office
$1266.77
Facility
$238.90
$117.03 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Stockton
California · 36216
Office
$1149.55
Facility
$232.17
$0.19 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Vallejo
California · 36216
Office
$1347.92
Facility
$244.72
$198.18 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Visalia
California · 36216
Office
$1149.55
Facility
$232.17
$0.19 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Yuba City
California · 36216
Office
$1149.55
Facility
$232.17
$0.19 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Dc + Md/Va Suburbs
District of Columbia · 36216
Office
$1249.11
Facility
$263.09
$99.37 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Miami
Florida · 36216
Office
$1173.94
Facility
$302.60
$24.20 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Chicago
Illinois · 36216
Office
$1134.95
Facility
$293.74
$14.79 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Manhattan
New York · 36216
Office
$1254.74
Facility
$282.12
$105.00 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Alaska*
Alaska · 36216
Office
$1206.03
Facility
$314.60
$56.29 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Alabama
Alabama · 36216
Office
$955.25
Facility
$222.85
$194.49 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Arkansas
Arkansas · 36216
Office
$939.39
Facility
$220.38
$210.35 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Arizona
Arizona · 36216
Office
$1048.08
Facility
$237.00
$101.66 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Colorado
Colorado · 36216
Office
$1130.06
Facility
$239.47
$19.68 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Connecticut
Connecticut · 36216
Office
$1158.95
Facility
$257.48
$9.21 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Delaware
Delaware · 36216
Office
$1067.11
Facility
$240.13
$82.63 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Fort Lauderdale
Florida · 36216
Office
$1122.34
Facility
$274.43
$27.40 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Florida
Florida · 36216
Office
$1061.18
Facility
$260.98
$88.56 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Atlanta
Georgia · 36216
Office
$1102.56
Facility
$252.14
$47.18 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Georgia
Georgia · 36216
Office
$993.69
Facility
$247.06
$156.05 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Hawaii, Guam
Hawaii · 36216
Office
$1183.97
Facility
$232.27
$34.23 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Iowa
Iowa · 36216
Office
$983.72
Facility
$217.84
$166.02 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Idaho
Idaho · 36216
Office
$990.94
Facility
$220.88
$158.80 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
East St. Louis
Illinois · 36216
Office
$1049.10
Facility
$279.04
$100.64 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Illinois
Illinois · 36216
Office
$1025.98
Facility
$261.78
$123.76 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Suburban Chicago
Illinois · 36216
Office
$1134.38
Facility
$274.75
$15.36 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Indiana
Indiana · 36216
Office
$997.53
Facility
$221.61
$152.21 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Kansas
Kansas · 36216
Office
$978.17
Facility
$221.50
$171.57 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Kentucky
Kentucky · 36216
Office
$980.62
Facility
$236.50
$169.12 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
New Orleans
Louisiana · 36216
Office
$1034.26
Facility
$246.62
$115.48 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Louisiana
Louisiana · 36216
Office
$978.76
Facility
$237.99
$170.98 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Metropolitan Boston
Massachusetts · 36216
Office
$1252.40
Facility
$252.99
$102.66 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Massachusetts
Massachusetts · 36216
Office
$1121.77
Facility
$240.38
$27.97 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Baltimore/Surr. Cntys
Maryland · 36216
Office
$1155.80
Facility
$257.67
$6.06 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Maryland
Maryland · 36216
Office
$1089.59
Facility
$242.52
$60.15 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Maine
Maine · 36216
Office
$996.56
Facility
$226.50
$153.18 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Southern Maine
Maine · 36216
Office
$1058.75
Facility
$229.26
$90.99 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Detroit
Michigan · 36216
Office
$1075.92
Facility
$268.19
$73.82 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Michigan
Michigan · 36216
Office
$1009.60
Facility
$245.40
$140.14 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Minnesota
Minnesota · 36216
Office
$1079.21
Facility
$217.91
$70.53 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Metropolitan Kansas City
Missouri · 36216
Office
$1026.51
Facility
$240.55
$123.23 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Metropolitan St. Louis
Missouri · 36216
Office
$1038.78
Facility
$241.93
$110.96 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Missouri
Missouri · 36216
Office
$959.33
Facility
$237.81
$190.41 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Mississippi
Mississippi · 36216
Office
$949.59
Facility
$228.91
$200.15 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Montana**
Montana · 36216
Office
$1080.44
Facility
$243.42
$69.30 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
North Carolina
North Carolina · 36216
Office
$1008.53
Facility
$227.58
$141.21 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
North Dakota**
North Dakota · 36216
Office
$1058.10
Facility
$221.07
$91.64 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Nebraska
Nebraska · 36216
Office
$989.97
Facility
$217.39
$159.77 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire · 36216
Office
$1111.52
Facility
$240.17
$38.22 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Northern Nj
New Jersey · 36216
Office
$1233.28
Facility
$262.33
$83.54 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of New Jersey
New Jersey · 36216
Office
$1171.19
Facility
$257.16
$21.45 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
New Mexico
New Mexico · 36216
Office
$1015.80
Facility
$248.25
$133.94 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Nevada**
Nevada · 36216
Office
$1075.09
Facility
$237.22
$74.65 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Nyc Suburbs/Long Island
New York · 36216
Office
$1288.49
Facility
$293.26
$138.75 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs
New York · 36216
Office
$1178.92
Facility
$262.38
$29.18 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Queens
New York · 36216
Office
$1266.73
Facility
$277.36
$116.99 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of New York
New York · 36216
Office
$1025.75
Facility
$230.58
$123.99 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Ohio
Ohio · 36216
Office
$1005.04
Facility
$240.83
$144.70 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma · 36216
Office
$978.90
Facility
$231.43
$170.84 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Portland
Oregon · 36216
Office
$1170.30
Facility
$240.36
$20.56 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Oregon
Oregon · 36216
Office
$1065.83
Facility
$232.15
$83.91 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Metropolitan Philadelphia
Pennsylvania · 36216
Office
$1126.61
Facility
$255.26
$23.13 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania · 36216
Office
$1007.01
Facility
$238.62
$142.73 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico · 36216
Office
$1089.54
Facility
$243.30
$60.20 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island · 36216
Office
$1108.45
Facility
$243.80
$41.29 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
South Carolina
South Carolina · 36216
Office
$1008.65
Facility
$235.24
$141.09 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
South Dakota**
South Dakota · 36216
Office
$1055.46
Facility
$218.43
$94.28 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Tennessee
Tennessee · 36216
Office
$983.77
Facility
$222.92
$165.97 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Austin
Texas · 36216
Office
$1127.08
Facility
$241.51
$22.66 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Beaumont
Texas · 36216
Office
$999.44
Facility
$237.75
$150.30 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Brazoria
Texas · 36216
Office
$1065.75
Facility
$236.26
$83.99 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Dallas
Texas · 36216
Office
$1073.22
Facility
$239.54
$76.52 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Fort Worth
Texas · 36216
Office
$1065.00
Facility
$239.69
$84.74 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Galveston
Texas · 36216
Office
$1069.30
Facility
$238.14
$80.44 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Houston
Texas · 36216
Office
$1089.99
Facility
$258.82
$59.75 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Texas
Texas · 36216
Office
$1032.43
Facility
$238.09
$117.31 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Utah
Utah · 36216
Office
$1024.40
Facility
$237.60
$125.34 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Virginia
Virginia · 36216
Office
$1054.61
Facility
$231.82
$95.13 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Virgin Islands
United States Virgin Islands · 36216
Office
$1089.54
Facility
$243.30
$60.20 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Vermont
Vermont · 36216
Office
$1053.16
Facility
$224.51
$96.58 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Washington
Washington · 36216
Office
$1119.90
Facility
$238.51
$29.84 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Seattle (King Cnty)
Washington · 36216
Office
$1279.93
Facility
$252.90
$130.19 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin · 36216
Office
$1017.81
Facility
$215.94
$131.93 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
West Virginia
West Virginia · 36216
Office
$982.67
Facility
$255.30
$167.07 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Wyoming**
Wyoming · 36216
Office
$1070.71
Facility
$233.68
$79.03 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
See how rates vary across the country
36216 · 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.
$939.39
$1,308.24
Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.
View all state and territory rates as a table
| State / territory | Rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $1,206.03 | 1 |
| AL | $955.25 | 1 |
| AR | $939.39 | 1 |
| AZ | $1,048.08 | 1 |
| CA | $1,149.55–$1,466.92 | 29 |
| CO | $1,130.06 | 1 |
| CT | $1,158.95 | 1 |
| DC | $1,249.11 | 1 |
| DE | $1,067.11 | 1 |
| FL | $1,061.18–$1,173.94 | 3 |
| GA | $993.69–$1,102.56 | 2 |
| GU | $1,183.97 | 1 |
| HI | $1,183.97 | 1 |
| IA | $983.72 | 1 |
| ID | $990.94 | 1 |
| IL | $1,025.98–$1,134.95 | 4 |
| IN | $997.53 | 1 |
| KS | $978.17 | 1 |
| KY | $980.62 | 1 |
| LA | $978.76–$1,034.26 | 2 |
| MA | $1,121.77–$1,252.40 | 2 |
| MD | $1,089.59–$1,249.11 | 3 |
| ME | $996.56–$1,058.75 | 2 |
| MI | $1,009.60–$1,075.92 | 2 |
| MN | $1,079.21 | 1 |
| MO | $959.33–$1,038.78 | 3 |
| MS | $949.59 | 1 |
| MT | $1,080.44 | 1 |
| NC | $1,008.53 | 1 |
| ND | $1,058.10 | 1 |
| NE | $989.97 | 1 |
| NH | $1,111.52 | 1 |
| NJ | $1,171.19–$1,233.28 | 2 |
| NM | $1,015.80 | 1 |
| NV | $1,075.09 | 1 |
| NY | $1,025.75–$1,288.49 | 5 |
| OH | $1,005.04 | 1 |
| OK | $978.90 | 1 |
| OR | $1,065.83–$1,170.30 | 2 |
| PA | $1,007.01–$1,126.61 | 2 |
| PR | $1,089.54 | 1 |
| RI | $1,108.45 | 1 |
| SC | $1,008.65 | 1 |
| SD | $1,055.46 | 1 |
| TN | $983.77 | 1 |
| TX | $999.44–$1,127.08 | 8 |
| UT | $1,024.40 | 1 |
| VA | $1,054.61–$1,249.11 | 2 |
| VI | $1,089.54 | 1 |
| VT | $1,053.16 | 1 |
| WA | $1,119.90–$1,279.93 | 2 |
| WI | $1,017.81 | 1 |
| WV | $982.67 | 1 |
| WY | $1,070.71 | 1 |
Where does this rate apply?
El Centro is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 18 cities and communities in California, 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.
Why are the office and facility amounts different?
For 36216 in El Centro, the physician’s office rate is $1149.74 and the facility-setting rate is $232.36: a difference of $917.38.
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.
Use this rate
What is a percentage of Medicare worth?
Turn a percentage into dollars for 36216 in El Centro. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.
Reference amount per service
$1264.71
$1149.74 × 110% = $1264.71
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.
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 36216 in El Centro.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
4,444
- Code
- 36216
- Physician work
- 5.14
- Practice expense
- 26.08
- Malpractice
- 1.13
GPCI2026.csv
10
- Locality
- El Centro
- Physician work
- 1.017
- Practice expense
- 1.096
- Malpractice
- 0.541
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 5.14 | × 1.017 | 5.2274 |
| Practice expense | 26.08 | × 1.096 | 28.5837 |
| Malpractice | 1.13 | × 0.541 | 0.6113 |
| Total RVUs | 34.4224 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Office / nonfacility rate, El Centro$1149.74
Open 36216 in the RVU calculator →
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Office / nonfacility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 5.14 | 1.017 |
| Practice expense | 26.08 | 1.096 |
| Malpractice | 1.13 | 0.541 |
(5.14 × 1.017 + 26.08 × 1.096 + 1.13 × 0.541) × $33.4009 = $1149.74
Facility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 5.14 | 1.017 |
| Practice expense | 1.02 | 1.096 |
| Malpractice | 1.13 | 0.541 |
(5.14 × 1.017 + 1.02 × 1.096 + 1.13 × 0.541) × $33.4009 = $232.36
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
36216 · Office / nonfacility
$1149.74
Effective 2026-10-01
The base rate is $94.32 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $1055.42 to $1149.74 (8.9%).
It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.
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
January 1, 2026
RVU26A
$1055.42changed to$1149.74
- Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
- Work RVU 5.27 changed to 5.14
- Practice expense RVU 24.40 changed to 26.08
- Malpractice RVU 1.08 changed to 1.13
- Work GPCI 1.014 changed to 1.017
- Practice expense GPCI 1.093 changed to 1.096
- Malpractice GPCI 0.570 changed to 0.541
Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.
January 1, 2025
RVU25A
Earliest loaded release: $1055.42
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 from | Office / nonfacility | Facility | CMS release |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | $1149.74 | $232.36 | RVU26D |
| 2026-07-01 | $1149.74 | $232.36 | RVU26C |
| 2026-04-01 | $1149.74 | $232.36 | RVU26B |
| 2026-01-01 | $1149.74 | $232.36 | RVU26A |
| 2025-10-01 | $1055.42 | $251.81 | RVU25D |
| 2025-07-01 | $1055.42 | $251.81 | RVU25C |
| 2025-04-01 | $1055.42 | $251.81 | RVU25B |
| 2025-01-01 | $1055.42 | $251.81 | RVU25A |
36216 billing questions
How does 36216 differ from 36215 and 36217?
Select by catheter destination within the arterial tree: 36215 represents a first-order branch, 36216 a second-order branch, and 36217 a third-order or more selective branch.
Can 36216 be reported for each additional branch selected?
Use 36216 for the qualifying second-order placement. For each additional second-order or more selective branch in the same vascular family, consider add-on code 36218 when its reporting criteria are met.
What documentation supports 36216?
Document the access route, the vessels traversed, the target branch and its order, and the diagnostic or therapeutic service associated with the catheter placement.
Should 36216 be reported with cervicocerebral angiography codes?
Codes such as 36222 describe cervicocerebral angiography services that include catheter placement. Do not separately add 36216 for catheter work already represented by that service.
Can modifier 50 or an assistant-at-surgery modifier be used?
Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
How does CMS reduce payment when other procedures are performed in the session?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures subject to the standard multiple procedure rule are paid at 50%.
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.
4,44136160,,Establish access to aorta,A,,2.46,13.51,,0.38,,0.36,16.33,3.20,0,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
4,44236200,,Place catheter in aorta,A,,2.70,13.64,,0.36,,0.62,16.96,3.68,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,1,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
4,44336215,,Place catheter in artery,A,,4.07,27.17,,0.94,,0.62,31.86,5.63,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
4,44436216,,Place catheter in artery,A,,5.14,26.08,,1.02,,1.13,32.35,7.29,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
4,44536217,,Place catheter in artery,A,,6.13,51.50,,1.37,,1.53,59.16,9.03,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
4,44636218,,Place catheter in artery,A,,0.98,5.69,,0.20,,0.21,6.88,1.39,0,ZZZ,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
4,44736221,,Place cath thoracic aorta,A,,3.82,23.81,,0.61,,0.90,28.53,5.33,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,2,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
707102,AR,13,ARKANSAS,1.000,0.859,0.515
801112,CA,54,BAKERSFIELD,1.019,1.096,0.609
901112,CA,55,CHICO,1.017,1.096,0.536
1001182,CA,71,EL CENTRO,1.017,1.096,0.541
1101112,CA,56,FRESNO,1.017,1.096,0.536
1201112,CA,57,HANFORD-CORCORAN,1.017,1.096,0.536
1301182,CA,18,LOS ANGELES-LONG BEACH-ANAHEIM (LOS ANGELES/ORANGE CNTY),1.041,1.183,0.664