Billing code 51610: Bladder injectionMedicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Reports injection of contrast into the bladder to support x-ray imaging, separate from the radiographic acquisition and interpretation.
Medicare pays $119.86–$133.10 for 51610 in the office in Texas, from Beaumont to Austin. 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 51610 covers
A clinician introduces contrast into the bladder so it can be assessed on x-ray. The contrast is commonly delivered through a urinary catheter. This service may be part of a cystographic evaluation when the ordering clinician needs to assess the bladder, such as when investigating a suspected leak. Urologists and radiologists may perform the injection in a hospital, imaging department, or other procedure setting. The radiographic images and their interpretation are distinct from the injection service.
Report 51610 when the documented bladder contrast injection matches this service; the record should identify the clinical reason, the injection performed, and the associated imaging study. 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 procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted, and co-surgeon and team-surgery reporting 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 51610 pays more and less in Texas
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
8 payment localities
$119.86 to $133.10
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | $133.10 | $58.54 |
| Beaumont | $119.86 | $55.73 |
| Brazoria | $126.84 | $57.00 |
| Dallas | $127.64 | $57.44 |
| Fort Worth | $126.79 | $57.30 |
| Galveston | $127.21 | $57.23 |
| Houston | $129.41 | $59.43 |
| Rest Of Texas | $123.27 | $56.39 |
How the 51610 rate is calculated
Each of 51610’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 · 51610
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 1.02Practice expense 2.70Malpractice 0.12
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 51610
The CMS indicators that decide how 51610 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 51610
Bladder injection
| 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 | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| 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 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
51610 without 51 · national office
$128.26
Bladder injection
51610-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$64.13
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%).
51610 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
51610 vs 51600 vs 51605 vs 74430: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 51600Bladder injection
- 51600 describes an injection for cystography or voiding urethrocystography. Compare the documented procedure with each code's service rather than relying only on the general purpose of bladder imaging.
- 51605Bladder study prep
- 51605 is identified as a bladder x-ray preparation service. Use 51610 for the injection service when that is what the record supports.
- 74430Bladder imaging
- 74430 represents the radiographic cystography study, while 51610 represents the bladder contrast injection. They describe different parts of the imaging encounter.
51610 billing questions
How does 51610 differ from 51600?
Both involve bladder-related contrast injection for x-ray evaluation. Choose the code that matches the documented injection service; do not select 51610 based only on the fact that a cystogram was performed.
Does 51610 include the x-ray study?
The code describes the injection service, not the radiographic image acquisition or interpretation. Report the imaging service separately when it is performed and separately reportable.
Can modifier 50 be reported?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code.
How does the multiple-procedure rule affect payment?
For procedures performed in the same session, CMS pays the highest-valued procedure in full and applies the standard multiple-procedure reduction to the others.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted for 51610. CMS does not permit co-surgeon or team-surgery reporting.
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
Fee sheets
Put 51610 and the rest of your codes on one sheet
Build a fee sheet from your own code list at your locality, put your payer contracts beside Medicare, and see what changed each quarter.
Build my fee sheetOr price your code list free →