Billing code 49324: Dialysis catheter placementMedicare rate & RVUs in Oregon
Laparoscopic placement of a tunneled intraperitoneal catheter, typically for peritoneal dialysis access, with the catheter positioned under abdominal visualization.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 49324 in Oregon.
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 49324 covers
This service places a tunneled catheter into the peritoneal cavity using laparoscopic access, allowing the surgeon to visualize abdominal structures and position the catheter. It is most often performed by a general or minimally invasive surgeon for a patient who needs peritoneal dialysis access. The operative work includes creating the tunnel and inserting the catheter, rather than inspecting the abdomen alone.
Report 49324 when the operative note supports laparoscopic insertion of a new tunneled intraperitoneal catheter. Documentation should identify the indication, laparoscopic approach, and catheter placement. For revision of a previously placed catheter, consider 49325 instead. CMS assigns a 10-day global period, so related postoperative visits during that period are included. When related endoscopies are performed together, endoscopy-family pricing applies. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be allowed, co-surgeons are permitted, and team surgery is 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 49324 pays more and less in Oregon
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Portland | Unavailable | $367.43 |
| Rest Of Oregon | Unavailable | $349.68 |
How the 49324 rate is calculated
Each of 49324’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 · 49324
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 6.16Practice expense 3.19Malpractice 1.61
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 49324
49324 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 49324
Dialysis catheter placement
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 010 | Minor procedure: the day of the procedure plus 10 days after are included. |
| Multiple procedures | 3 | Endoscopy family rules apply. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 2 | Permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.80/0.10 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 49324
Dialysis catheter placement
10-day global period ends
Oct 11, 2026
Covers Oct 1, 2026 through Oct 11, 2026 (11 days).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
After the global period ends: visits and procedures are billed normally.
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
49324 without 51 · national facility
$366.07
Dialysis catheter placement
49324-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$183.04
When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).
49324 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
49324 vs 49325 vs 49421 vs 49418 vs 49320: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 49325Catheter revision
- Use 49324 for laparoscopic insertion of a new tunneled catheter; 49325 describes laparoscopic revision of a previously placed catheter.
- 49421Dialysis catheter placement
- 49421 is the open approach to tunneled intraperitoneal catheter insertion. Use 49324 when the catheter is inserted laparoscopically.
- 49418Peritoneal catheter
- 49418 describes percutaneous catheter insertion, rather than the laparoscopic approach reported with 49324.
- 49320Diagnostic laparoscopy
- 49320 is for diagnostic abdominal laparoscopy. It does not describe therapeutic catheter insertion.
49324 billing questions
How does 49324 differ from 49325?
49324 describes laparoscopic insertion of a new tunneled intraperitoneal catheter. 49325 is for laparoscopic revision of a catheter that was previously placed.
How does 49324 differ from open catheter placement?
49324 is for laparoscopic insertion. The open approach is represented by 49421, while 49418 describes percutaneous insertion.
Can diagnostic laparoscopy be billed separately with 49324?
The abdominal inspection used to perform the catheter placement is part of the surgical service. A separate diagnostic laparoscopy code should not be used to report that integral work.
Can 49326 be reported with 49324?
49326 is an add-on code for omentopexy and may be reported with 49324 when that additional procedure is performed and documented.
What postoperative care is included?
Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in 49324.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
CMS permits assistant-at-surgery payment and co-surgeons for this service. Team surgery is 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 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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