CPT code 33880: Thoracic endovascular repair, left subclavian origin covered2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $1,287.27 for 33880 nationally in a facility.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 33880 covers

A vascular or cardiothoracic surgeon uses catheter-based delivery to place an endograft in the descending thoracic aorta, excluding disease such as an aneurysm, dissection, pseudoaneurysm, penetrating ulcer, or traumatic disruption. This code distinguishes a repair that covers the left subclavian artery origin from one that leaves that origin uncovered. These procedures are typically performed in a hospital operating room or hybrid suite.

Select the code based on the operative anatomy and the repair performed: documentation should identify the aortic disease and show that the initial endoprosthesis covers the left subclavian origin. Extensions placed as part of the initial repair are included in the procedure; delayed extension placement is represented by separate codes. The CMS global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery and co-surgeon payment 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 33880 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

33880 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

How the 33880 rate is calculated

Each of 33880’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 33880

33880 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 51

33880 compared with similar codes

How to choose

33881Thoracic endograftLeft subclavian origin spared

Both describe endovascular repair of the descending thoracic aorta. The key distinction is whether the repair covers the left subclavian artery origin: covered is 33880; uncovered is 33881.

33882Thoracic endograftMultiple-component prosthesis

33882 is associated with a repair requiring multiple component systems. Review the device configuration and operative technique rather than choosing between these codes solely by the aortic diagnosis.

33883Aortic extensionDelayed, proximal placement

33883 describes delayed placement of a proximal extension prosthesis, not the initial repair reported by 33880.

33875Aortic graftDescending thoracic aorta

33875 describes open thoracic aortic graft repair. Code 33880 is for catheter-based endograft repair with coverage of the left subclavian artery origin.

Codes related to 33880

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates