Billing code 52346: Renal stricture treatmentMedicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Urologists use this code to treat a narrowing within the kidney’s collecting system during ureteroscopy or pyeloscopy, such as by dilation or incision.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 52346 in Florida.
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 9 sections
What 52346 covers
A urologist passes an endoscope through the bladder and ureter into the kidney to treat a stricture within the intrarenal collecting system. Treatment may involve balloon dilation or incision with laser or electrocautery. A typical clinical problem is a narrowed infundibulum that obstructs drainage from part of the kidney. The procedure is generally performed in an operating room or other facility setting; Medicare’s 2024 utilization data show facility services for this code.
Report 52346 when the treated narrowing is intrarenal and ureteroscopy or pyeloscopy is used. Document the stricture’s location, the endoscopic approach, and the treatment performed. The code includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care and has a 0-day global period. When related endoscopies are performed together, endoscopy family pricing applies. For bilateral procedures, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity; 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 52346 pays more and less in Florida
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | Unavailable | $421.59 |
| Miami | Unavailable | $449.72 |
| Rest Of Florida | Unavailable | $406.27 |
How the 52346 rate is calculated
Each of 52346’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 · 52346
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 8.37Practice expense 2.27Malpractice 1.08
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 52346
The CMS indicators that decide how 52346 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 52346
Renal stricture treatment
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included. |
| Multiple procedures | 3 | Endoscopy family rules apply. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 1 | Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
52346 without 50 · national facility
$391.46
Renal stricture treatment
52346-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$587.19
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).
52346 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
52346 vs 52343 vs 52344 vs 52345: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 52343Renal stricture treatment
- Both codes treat an intrarenal stricture. Use 52346 when ureteroscopy and/or pyeloscopy is part of the treatment.
- 52344Stricture treatment
- This code treats a ureteral stricture; 52346 treats a narrowing within the kidney’s collecting system.
- 52345UPJ stricture incision
- This code is for a ureteropelvic junction stricture. Use 52346 for a stricture located within the kidney.
52346 billing questions
How is 52346 different from 52343?
Both address an intrarenal stricture, but 52346 includes ureteroscopy and/or pyeloscopy. Choose 52343 when the procedure does not include that endoscopic approach.
When should 52344 or 52345 be used instead?
Those codes treat strictures in different locations: 52344 is for a ureteral stricture, and 52345 is for a ureteropelvic junction stricture. 52346 is for a stricture within the kidney.
Is diagnostic inspection separately reported with the treatment?
The code includes ureteroscopy and/or pyeloscopy with treatment of the intrarenal stricture. Document the inspection and treatment performed as part of that service.
How is 52346 handled when another related endoscopy is performed?
CMS endoscopy family pricing applies when related endoscopies are performed together. Report the procedures performed and document their distinct clinical purposes.
Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral treatment?
Yes. CMS pays bilateral procedures reported with modifier 50 at 150%.
What documentation supports assistant-at-surgery payment?
Document the medical necessity for the assistant’s participation. CMS pays an assistant at surgery for this code only when that necessity is documented.
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
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