Billing code 37252: Intravascular ultrasoundMedicare rate & RVUs in Ohio
Reports intravascular ultrasound of the first noncoronary vessel examined during a qualifying vascular procedure, such as evaluation of peripheral or visceral vessel anatomy.
Medicare pays $823.86 for 37252 in the office in Ohio (Ohio). Which amount applies depends on the service address.
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 37252 covers
A catheter-mounted ultrasound probe produces cross-sectional images from inside a noncoronary blood vessel. Vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists, and other endovascular specialists use the images to assess vessel dimensions, plaque, stenosis, or the result of an intervention. The service may be performed in an angiography suite or another setting equipped for endovascular procedures, including during evaluation or treatment of peripheral and visceral vessels.
Report 37252 for the first noncoronary vessel examined by intravascular ultrasound; use 37253 for each additional vessel. The documentation should identify the vessel examined, describe the ultrasound findings, and support that imaging and interpretation were performed. This is an add-on code: report it only with a primary procedure, not as a stand-alone service. CMS treats its payment within the primary procedure’s global-period context.
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.
37252 in Ohio
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | $823.86 | $78.56 |
How the 37252 rate is calculated
Each of 37252’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 · 37252
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 1.76Practice expense 24.68Malpractice 0.37
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 37252
The CMS indicators that decide how 37252 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 37252
Intravascular ultrasound
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | ZZZ | Add-on code: falls within the primary procedure’s global period. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
37252 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
37252 vs 37253 vs 92978 vs 37246: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 37253IVUS
- 37252 covers the first noncoronary vessel examined; 37253 covers each additional vessel.
- 92978Endoluminl ivus oct c 1st
- Use 92978 for intravascular ultrasound of a coronary vessel. Code 37252 is for a noncoronary vessel.
- 37246Arterial angioplasty
- 37246 reports arterial balloon angioplasty, a treatment service. Code 37252 reports intravascular ultrasound imaging of a noncoronary vessel.
37252 billing questions
Can 37252 be reported by itself?
No. It is an add-on code and must be reported with a qualifying primary procedure.
When is 37253 used instead?
Use 37252 for the first noncoronary vessel examined and 37253 for each additional vessel. The count is based on vessels, not the number of ultrasound images or pullbacks.
Does 37252 include interpretation?
The service includes intravascular imaging and interpretation. Document the vessel assessed and the findings used in the procedural evaluation.
Can 37252 be reported with angioplasty or stent placement?
It may be reported with a primary vascular procedure when intravascular ultrasound is performed and the code’s requirements are met. The add-on code cannot stand alone.
What documentation supports the code?
Record the noncoronary vessel examined, the use of intravascular ultrasound, and the findings. The record should make clear which vessel is the first vessel for code selection.
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
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