$407.58
Both use ureterostomy access, but 50951 describes diagnostic ureteroscopy without the catheterization service included in 50953.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
50953 Ureteroscopy Medicare reimbursement rates in Guam
Reports ureteroscopic examination through a ureterostomy with ureteral catheterization, including associated irrigation, instillation, or ureteropyelography when performed. Compare 50953 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities in Guam.
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 50953 in Guam?
Guam has 1 payment locality in this comparison. Use the service location to choose the applicable amount. These are the supported base rates for the payment area shown below, using the same CMS release.
Office / nonfacility
$431.83
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: Hawaii, Guam
One mapped payment locality.
Facility setting
$284.48
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: Hawaii, Guam
One mapped payment locality.
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 endoscopy
About 50953: Ureteroscopy Through Ureterostomy With Catheterization
Reports ureteroscopic examination through a ureterostomy with ureteral catheterization, including associated irrigation, instillation, or ureteropyelography when performed.
A urologist passes an endoscope through an existing ureterostomy to examine the ureter and catheterize it. Irrigation, instillation, or ureteropyelography may accompany the procedure. This approach is distinct from reaching the ureter through the bladder and urethra; it uses the surgically created opening from the ureter to the body surface. It may be performed in a facility setting for evaluation or management of a ureteral problem when this access route is used.
Report the code when the documented service includes ureteroscopy through the ureterostomy and ureteral catheterization; the operative note should identify the access route and services performed. CMS applies endoscopy-family pricing when related endoscopies are performed together, so those services are not necessarily paid as separate full procedures. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. For a bilateral procedure, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
CMS billing rules for 50953
- Global period
- Minor procedure with a 0-day global period: same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included.
- Multiple procedures
- Endoscopy family pricing applies when related endoscopies are performed together.
- Bilateral procedures
- Bilateral procedure with modifier 50 is paid at 150%.
- 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 RVU6.07 · 49%
- Practice expense (office) RVU5.63 · 45%
- Malpractice RVU0.79 · 6%
23
Medicare services in 2024 · #5848 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.
50953 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Guam, from the same CMS release.
$459.19
Use 50955 when ureteroscopic biopsy is performed through the ureterostomy; 50953 is for catheterization with ureteroscopic access.
No office rate
52351 describes diagnostic ureteroscopy reached through the urethra and bladder. This code uses an existing ureterostomy and includes ureteral catheterization.
No office rate
52352 is used for transurethral ureteroscopy with calculus removal. It represents a different access route and a stone-removal service.
Compare 50953 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.
1 of 1 payment localities
Hawaii, Guam →
Office / nonfacility
$431.83
Facility
$284.48
Need rates for a whole code list?
Fee-sheet and API access are in early access. Tell us which codes and locations your team needs.
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 50953 in Hawaii, Guam.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
6,006
- Code
- 50953
- Physician work
- 6.07
- Practice expense
- 5.63
- Malpractice
- 0.79
GPCI2026.csv
46
- Locality
- Hawaii, Guam
- Physician work
- 1.000
- Practice expense
- 1.137
- Malpractice
- 0.579
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 6.07 | × 1.000 | 6.0700 |
| Practice expense | 5.63 | × 1.137 | 6.4013 |
| Malpractice | 0.79 | × 0.579 | 0.4574 |
| Total RVUs | 12.9287 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Office / nonfacility rate, Hawaii, Guam$431.83
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Office / nonfacility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 6.07 | 1 |
| Practice expense | 5.63 | 1.137 |
| Malpractice | 0.79 | 0.579 |
(6.07 × 1 + 5.63 × 1.137 + 0.79 × 0.579) × $33.4009 = $431.83
Facility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 6.07 | 1 |
| Practice expense | 1.75 | 1.137 |
| Malpractice | 0.79 | 0.579 |
(6.07 × 1 + 1.75 × 1.137 + 0.79 × 0.579) × $33.4009 = $284.48
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.
50953 billing questions
How does this differ from diagnostic ureteroscopy code 50951?
This code includes ureteral catheterization along with endoscopic access through a ureterostomy. Use 50951 when the documented service is diagnostic ureteroscopy through that route without the catheterization service.
When should a biopsy code be used instead?
Choose the applicable biopsy code, such as 50955, when the procedure includes taking a ureteral tissue sample. This code describes catheterization with ureteroscopic access, not biopsy.
Can related ureter endoscopies be separately paid when performed together?
CMS applies endoscopy-family pricing when related endoscopies are performed together. The payment treatment follows that family pricing rather than assuming each related endoscopy receives separate full payment.
What should the operative note establish?
Document that the endoscope entered through a ureterostomy, that the ureter was catheterized, and any associated irrigation, instillation, or ureteropyelography performed.
How is a bilateral procedure reported?
CMS identifies this as a bilateral procedure; modifier 50 is paid at 150%.
Can an assistant surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is available only when medical necessity is documented. 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.
6,00350948,,Laparo new ureter/bladder,A,,23.22,7.63,NA,7.63,,3.02,33.87,33.87,0,090,0.08,0.83,0.09,2,1,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
6,00450949,,Unlisted laps px ureter,C,,0.00,0.00,,0.00,,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,YYY,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,1,2,1,1,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
6,00550951,,Endoscopy of ureter,A,,5.68,5.37,,1.66,,0.72,11.77,8.06,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,1,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
6,00650953,,Endoscopy of ureter,A,,6.07,5.63,,1.75,,0.79,12.49,8.61,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,3,1,0,0,0,9,50951,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
6,00750955,,Ureter endoscopy & biopsy,A,,6.57,5.88,,1.85,,0.85,13.30,9.27,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,3,1,0,0,0,9,50951,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
6,00850957,,Ureter endoscopy & treatment,A,,6.61,5.96,,1.86,,0.85,13.42,9.32,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,3,1,0,0,0,9,50951,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
6,00950961,,Ureter endoscopy & treatment,A,,5.89,5.48,,1.71,,0.76,12.13,8.36,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,3,1,0,0,0,9,50951,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
4309102,FL,99,REST OF FLORIDA,1.000,0.956,1.503
4410212,GA,01,ATLANTA,1.003,1.016,1.201
4510212,GA,99,REST OF GEORGIA,1.000,0.892,1.192
4601212,HI,01,"HAWAII, GUAM",1.000,1.137,0.579
4702202,ID,00,IDAHO,1.000,0.920,0.473
4806102,IL,16,CHICAGO,1.007,1.005,2.295
4906102,IL,12,EAST ST. LOUIS,1.000,0.920,2.014