CPT code 33877: Aortic graft, thoracoabdominal segment2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Reports open graft replacement of a diseased aortic segment extending through the chest and abdomen, with or without cardiopulmonary bypass.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 33877 in Texas.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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What 33877 covers
This code describes open replacement of a thoracoabdominal aortic segment with a graft, commonly during repair of an aneurysm or other serious aortic disease. The operation is generally performed by vascular or cardiothoracic surgeons in a hospital operating room. Cardiopulmonary bypass may be used, but its use does not change selection of this code. The operative report should identify the aortic extent treated and document graft replacement.
Report the code for the thoracoabdominal repair rather than a graft procedure limited to the thoracic aorta. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period: the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are 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 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is not appropriate for this anatomy. Assistant-at-surgery payment and co-surgeon billing are permitted; 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 33877 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 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | Unavailable | $3,259.39 |
| Beaumont, TX | Unavailable | $3,209.15 |
| Brazoria, TX | Unavailable | $3,180.68 |
| Dallas, TX | Unavailable | $3,229.74 |
| Fort Worth, TX | Unavailable | $3,232.41 |
| Galveston, TX | Unavailable | $3,208.98 |
| Houston, TX | Unavailable | $3,521.24 |
| Rest of Texas | Unavailable | $3,212.85 |
How the 33877 rate is calculated
Each of 33877’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 · 33877
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work67.30
67.30 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense14.21
14.21 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice17.06
17.06 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
98.5700
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$3,292.33
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 33877
33877 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 33877
Aortic graft, thoracoabdominal segment
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are 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) | 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) | 0.09/0.84/0.07 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 33877
Aortic graft, thoracoabdominal segment
90-day global period ends
Dec 30, 2026
Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
33877 without 51 · national facility
$3,292.33
Aortic graft, thoracoabdominal segment
33877-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$1,646.17
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%).
33877 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 33875Aortic graftDescending thoracic aorta
- This code is for replacement extending through the thoracoabdominal aorta. Code 33875 applies when the open graft repair is limited to the thoracic aorta.
- 33880Thoracic endovascular repairLeft subclavian origin covered
- Code 33880 describes endovascular thoracic aortic repair involving coverage of the left subclavian origin; 33877 describes open graft replacement of the thoracoabdominal segment.
- 33881Thoracic endograftLeft subclavian origin spared
- Code 33881 describes endovascular thoracic aortic repair without coverage of the left subclavian origin. Choose 33877 for open graft replacement involving the thoracoabdominal aorta.
33877 billing questions
How is this different from 33875?
Use 33877 when the graft replacement involves the thoracoabdominal aorta. Code 33875 is for a graft replacement limited to the thoracic aorta.
Does cardiopulmonary bypass change code selection?
No. This code covers thoracoabdominal graft replacement whether or not cardiopulmonary bypass is used.
Are related postoperative visits separately included?
Related postoperative care for 90 days is included in the global period, as is the day-before preoperative visit.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made, and co-surgeons are permitted. Team surgery is not permitted for this code.
Should modifier 50 be used for bilateral work?
No. The descriptor and anatomy make modifier 50 inappropriate for this code.
How does the multiple-procedure rule affect payment?
When other procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others are subject to the standard 50% reduction.
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
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