36013 Place catheter in artery
Also known as: arterial line, A-line placement, radial artery catheter
Percutaneous placement of arterial catheter for blood pressure monitoring or blood sampling. Arterial access.
In Plain Language
putting a tube in an artery to check blood pressure; arterial access line
Clinical Context
Used for continuous hemodynamic monitoring in critical care, perioperative settings, or frequent blood draws.
RVU Breakdown
| Work RVU | 2.46 |
| Total RVU | 2.46 |
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 2.46, this code ranks in the 17th percentile among Surgery codes — 3.2x below the median (8.00). The highest wRVU in this category is 106.19.
Specialties
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CPT code 36013?
CPT 36013 (Place catheter in artery) is a Surgery code. Percutaneous placement of arterial catheter for blood pressure monitoring or blood sampling. Arterial access.
What is the wRVU value for CPT 36013?
The work RVU for CPT 36013 is 2.46. This code is primarily used by Critical Care, Anesthesia.
When is CPT 36013 used?
Used for continuous hemodynamic monitoring in critical care, perioperative settings, or frequent blood draws.
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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.