CPT CODESurgery (Respiratory/Cardiovascular)Status A

CPT Code 36475Complete Billing & Coding Guide (2026)Endovenous rf 1st vein

Reviewed by AAPC-Certified Coders2026 Medicare Fee ScheduleCMS + AMA Sources
Medicare Payment
$1056
Non-facility · National avg
Facility
$247
Total RVU
31.62
Global
000
Payment
$1056
non-facility
Work RVU
5.17
physician effort
Global Period
000
post-op days
Bundling Edits
10
NCCI pairs
Last reviewed: May 2026Reviewed by the Go Medical Billing Editorial TeamAAPC-certified coders

About CPT 36475

CPT 36475 is a Current Procedural Terminology code in the Surgery (Respiratory/Cardiovascular) category maintained by the American Medical Association. The CMS short descriptor reads "Endovenous rf 1st vein". For the full AMA long descriptor and clinical guidance, refer to the current CPT code manual.

Documentation specificity, correct ICD-10 linkage, and modifier accuracy determine whether 36475 pays cleanly or triggers a denial. Verify CMS National Physician Fee Schedule status, applicable Medicare LCDs, and any payer-specific medical policies before submission.

Pro Tip

36475 has 10 NCCI bundling edit pairs documented. Run your scrubber against the NCCI quarterly update before submission. When clinically warranted, use modifier 59 or the X-modifiers (XE, XS, XP, XU) to bypass an indicator-1 edit, with chart documentation supporting the distinct service.

Code Properties

Global Period
000
0-day global period (no postoperative days)
Status Indicator
A
Active. Payment under Medicare PFS.
Conversion Factor
$33.4009
CMS national rate
Effective Date
2026-04-01
per CMS publication

RVU Breakdown

Every CPT code’s Medicare payment is calculated from three Relative Value Unit components: physician work, practice expense, and malpractice. Together they multiply by the conversion factor to produce the payment amount.

RVU Composition
31.62 total RVU
5.17
25.30
Work RVU
5.17 · 16%
Physician time + skill
Practice Expense
25.30 · 80%
Office & equipment
Malpractice
1.15 · 4%
Liability insurance
Non-Facility
Private office · urgent care · ambulatory
Most billed
$1056.14
31.62 RVU × $33.4009 CF
Facility
Hospital · ASC · nursing home
$246.50
7.38 RVU × $33.4009 CF

Payment = Total RVU × Conversion Factor ($33.4009) × Geographic Adjustment (GPCI). National averages shown. Actual payment varies by locality.

Medicare Payment by State

Medicare adjusts payment by locality based on GPCI (Geographic Practice Cost Index). Higher cost-of-living areas like California and New York pay more. Rural states pay less. Top 12 states shown.

DC
$1220
CA
$1200
AK
$1180
NY
$1176
NJ
$1175
WA
$1172
MA
$1159
HI
$1156
CT
$1133
CO
$1104
MD
$1097
FL
$1095

Showing top 12 of 53 states. Full locality data available in CMS PFS Locality file.

NCCI Bundling Edits

10 pairs

These codes trigger National Correct Coding Initiative edits when billed with 36475. An indicator of 0 means the pair cannot be unbundled. Indicator 1 means modifier 59 or X-modifiers may allow separate billing with supporting documentation.

Featured pair
NCCI Bundling Verdict

36475 + 0213T: hard bundle (indicator 0)

The most-asked bundling question on this code. Verdict pulled from the current NCCI quarterly file.

Modifier indicator 0 means this edit cannot be bypassed. Do not append modifier 59 or X-modifiers. The bundled code must be written off, or, if clinically inappropriate, the entire claim reconsidered.

NCCI Rationale

Misuse of Column Two code with Column One code

Live NCCI verdict, updated quarterly against the CMS file.Check another pair
Common Denial Risk

Billing 36475 alongside a bundled code without the correct modifier generates CARC 97 denials. Payers often flag these as audit risks. Document medical necessity for the separate service and apply modifier 59 or the appropriate X-modifier (XE, XS, XP, XU) only when clinically justified.

AR Recovery Note

Multi-procedure NCCI edits hit surgical specialties harder than any other category. CO-97 denials on 36475 are frequently recoverable when the operative note documents distinct anatomic sites or staged steps. Our coders read the op note against the edit pair and pick the right modifier (XS preferred over modifier 59 for distinct structures).

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Indicator 0 means no modifier bypasses the edit. A real coder should confirm before the charge is written off. Some look-alike edits get appealed successfully on documentation grounds.

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Applicable Modifiers

Modifiers commonly paired with 36475 based on its category. Apply only when the clinical circumstance warrants. Incorrect modifier use is a top audit target.

22
Increased procedural services — work substantially greater than typically required
When to use · When the work required for a procedure is substantially more than usual (e.g., morbid obesity, extensive adhesions, unusual anatomy). Request additional payment.
33
Preventive services — when the primary purpose is delivery of an evidence-based service per USPSTF A or B recommendation
When to use · Screening services (colonoscopy, mammography, etc.) to indicate the primary purpose is preventive. Waives cost-sharing under ACA.
50
Bilateral procedure — performed on both sides of the body during the same operative session
When to use · When a procedure is performed on both sides (e.g., bilateral knee injections, bilateral cataract surgery). Payment = 150% of unilateral rate.
51
Multiple procedures — when multiple procedures (other than E/M) are performed at the same session
When to use · Second and subsequent procedures during the same session. Payment is typically reduced to 50% for the 2nd procedure, 25% for the 3rd+.
52
Reduced services — when a procedure is partially reduced or eliminated at the physician's discretion
When to use · When a procedure is not completed to its full extent (e.g., incomplete colonoscopy that didn't reach cecum). Payment reduced by payer discretion.
53
Discontinued procedure — physician elected to terminate/discontinue a procedure due to patient risk
When to use · When a surgical procedure is started but discontinued due to patient safety concerns (e.g., anesthesia complications, intraoperative findings).
54
Surgical care only
When to use · When the surgeon provided ONLY the surgery, not pre/post op care
55
Postoperative management only
When to use · When you managed post-op but another physician performed the surgery
AR Recovery Note

Modifier 24, 79, 78, and 58 on global-period claims are the highest-recovery surgical billing levers. 36475 carries a 000 global indicator. Our team flags every encounter inside an active global period for the right modifier decision.

Supporting ICD-10 Diagnoses

These diagnosis codes commonly support medical necessity for CPT 36475. Using the correct ICD-10 prevents CARC 50 denials. Payer rejects when the diagnosis doesn’t support the procedure.

1
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Treatment of Varicose Veins of the Lower Extremities
CMS LCD
I80.01See ICD-10-CM tabular index
I80.02See ICD-10-CM tabular index
I80.03See ICD-10-CM tabular index
I83.011See ICD-10-CM tabular index
I83.012See ICD-10-CM tabular index
I83.013See ICD-10-CM tabular index
I83.014See ICD-10-CM tabular index
I83.015See ICD-10-CM tabular index
I83.018See ICD-10-CM tabular index
I83.021See ICD-10-CM tabular index
I83.022See ICD-10-CM tabular index
I83.023See ICD-10-CM tabular index
AR Recovery Note

Surgical CO-50 denials usually trace to ICD-10 specificity gaps (E11.9 instead of E11.65, M17.11 instead of M17.0, etc.). Our coders map every diagnosis to the highest-specificity code the chart supports, eliminating the common medical-necessity denial pattern.

Free 90-Day AR Recovery Audit

Find the revenue leakage in your 36475 claims.

Wrong modifier, missing documentation, bundling without justification, stale ICD-10 linkage: these are the silent revenue killers on Surgery (Respiratory/Cardiovascular) claims. Our AAPC-certified team audits your last 90 days of 36475 claims, surfaces the recoverable dollars, and appeals them. Free, no obligation.

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FAQ

Everything about CPT 36475

What does CPT code 36475 cover?

CPT 36475 is a Current Procedural Terminology code in the Surgery (Respiratory/Cardiovascular) category maintained by the American Medical Association. The CMS short descriptor reads "Endovenous rf 1st vein". For the full AMA long descriptor and clinical guidance, refer to the current CPT code manual.

What is the Medicare payment for CPT 36475?

The national average Medicare payment for CPT 36475 is approximately $1056.14 in a non-facility setting and $246.5 in a facility setting. Actual payment varies by locality based on GPCI adjustments. Total RVU is 31.62 with a conversion factor of $33.4009.

What is the global period for CPT 36475?

CPT 36475 has a 0-day global period (indicator 000). Same-day E/M is bundled into the procedure, but office visits the next day or after are separately billable for unrelated care. Use modifier 24 for unrelated E/M during the global period.

What codes bundle with CPT 36475?

CPT 36475 has NCCI Procedure-to-Procedure edits with 10+ codes including 0213T, 0216T, 0524T. Modifier indicator 0 means the edit cannot be bypassed. Indicator 1 means modifier 59 or X-modifiers may allow separate billing with documentation.

CMS Medicare Physician Fee ScheduleNCCI Edits · Current QuarterAMA CPT Code Set

CPT codes and descriptions are copyright of the American Medical Association. RVU values reflect current CMS publications. Actual payment varies by locality. Commercial payer rates vary by contract.

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We audit your last 90 days of claims and surface the revenue leakage: wrong modifiers, missed bundling appeals, ICD-10 specificity gaps. AAPC-certified coders. 2.49% of collections. No setup fees.