36000 Place needle in vein
Also known as: venipuncture, peripheral IV placement, needle stick
Percutaneous placement of needle into vein for blood draw or fluid injection. Basic venipuncture procedure.
In Plain Language
putting a needle in a vein to draw blood; IV insertion
Clinical Context
Routine diagnostic or therapeutic procedure. Not typically billed separately in most settings.
RVU Breakdown
| Work RVU | 0.18 |
| Total RVU | 0.18 |
Est. Medicare Payment
National estimate based on 2026 CMS PFS Conversion Factor ($33.40). Actual payment varies by locality (GPCI adjustment).
Billing & Documentation
As a surgical CPT code, proper documentation must include the operative report detailing the procedure performed, patient positioning, approach, findings, and any complications. Ensure the diagnosis code (ICD-10) supports medical necessity for the procedure.
How This Code Compares
With a work RVU of 0.18, this code ranks in the 0th percentile among Surgery codes — 44.4x below the median (8.00). The highest wRVU in this category is 106.19.
Specialties
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CPT code 36000?
CPT 36000 (Place needle in vein) is a Surgery code. Percutaneous placement of needle into vein for blood draw or fluid injection. Basic venipuncture procedure.
What is the wRVU value for CPT 36000?
The work RVU for CPT 36000 is 0.18. This code is primarily used by General Surgery, Emergency Medicine.
When is CPT 36000 used?
Routine diagnostic or therapeutic procedure. Not typically billed separately in most settings.
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CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. Data sourced from CMS Physician Fee Schedule RVU26A. Descriptions, synonyms, and clinical context are original content by RVU Edge.