$117.88–$130.48
Choose 50684 for contrast injection to image the ureter or ureteropelvic system through a ureteral catheter or stoma. Choose 50686 when the service measures pressure during perfusion.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
50686 Ureteral pressure test Medicare reimbursement rates in Georgia
Report this study when a urologist perfuses the upper urinary tract and measures pressure to assess whether suspected ureteral obstruction is functionally significant. Compare 50686 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities in Georgia.
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.
What does Medicare pay for 50686 in Georgia?
Georgia has 2 payment localities in this comparison. Use the service location to choose the applicable amount. These are the supported base rates for the 2 payment areas shown below, using the same CMS release.
Office / nonfacility
$138.60–$150.19
2 of 2 localities have a supported rate.
Facility setting
$79.01–$82.32
2 of 2 localities have a supported rate.
These are locality ranges, not averages or address-specific quotes. A facility-setting amount covers the physician service; it does not include a hospital’s separate bill. Choose a locality below to inspect its calculation, compare other payment areas, or price a percentage of Medicare.
Urology
About 50686: Ureteral pressure-flow study
Report this study when a urologist perfuses the upper urinary tract and measures pressure to assess whether suspected ureteral obstruction is functionally significant.
This pressure-flow study, commonly called a Whitaker test, evaluates suspected obstruction in the upper urinary tract, including an equivocal blockage near the ureteropelvic junction. A urologist infuses fluid through access to the renal collecting system while measuring pressure, often comparing renal-pelvic pressure with bladder pressure. It is typically performed in a procedural or radiology setting when imaging alone has not clarified whether hydronephrosis reflects meaningful obstruction.
Report the study for the pressure measurement and perfusion service, supported by documentation of the access used, fluid perfusion, pressure readings, and clinical question being evaluated. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued 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 50686
- 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 RVU1.47 · 33%
- Practice expense (office) RVU2.75 · 62%
- Malpractice RVU0.19 · 4%
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.
50686 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Georgia, from the same CMS release.
$109.56–$119.02
50690 describes antegrade contrast imaging of the collecting system or ureter. Code 50686 is for pressure-flow testing, not an imaging injection alone.
No office rate
50600 describes operative exploration of the ureter. Code 50686 assesses upper-tract pressure during perfusion rather than surgically exploring the ureter.
Compare 50686 by payment locality
Find the payment area for your service address, then open its rate page for calculation inputs, release history and the percentage-of-Medicare tool. A city may cross payment-area boundaries; the ZIP lookup above helps resolve the location.
2 of 2 payment localities
Atlanta →
Office / nonfacility
$150.19
Facility
$82.32
Rest Of Georgia →
Office / nonfacility
$138.60
Facility
$79.01
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50686 billing questions
How is this different from ureterography codes 50684 and 50690?
50686 measures pressure during fluid perfusion to assess functional obstruction. Codes 50684 and 50690 describe contrast-injection imaging procedures.
When is a Whitaker test considered?
It may be used when hydronephrosis or suspected upper-tract obstruction remains functionally uncertain after other evaluation. The documented purpose should be pressure-flow assessment, not simply anatomic imaging.
Should modifier 50 be appended for testing both sides?
No. CMS identifies modifier 50 as inappropriate for this code.
How does the 0-day global period affect same-day care?
Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included in the procedure's global period.
What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity. Co-surgeons and team surgery 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.
5,96350650,,Removal of ureter,A,,18.35,7.04,NA,7.04,,2.49,27.88,27.88,0,090,0.08,0.83,0.09,2,1,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
5,96450660,,Removal of ureter,A,,20.49,7.47,NA,7.47,,2.63,30.59,30.59,0,090,0.08,0.83,0.09,2,0,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
5,96550684,,Injection for ureter x-ray,A,,0.74,3.02,,0.58,,0.08,3.84,1.40,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,1,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
5,96650686,,Measure ureter pressure,A,,1.47,2.75,,0.75,,0.19,4.41,2.41,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
5,96750688,,Change of ureter tube/stent,A,,1.17,0.83,NA,0.83,,0.13,2.13,2.13,0,010,0.10,0.80,0.10,2,1,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
5,96850690,,Injection for ureter x-ray,A,,1.13,2.25,,0.61,,0.12,3.50,1.86,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
5,96950693,,Plmt ureteral stent prq,A,,3.86,24.06,,1.00,,0.42,28.34,5.28,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,1,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00