CPT code 33880: Thoracic endovascular repair, left subclavian origin covered2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Michigan
Reports initial endovascular stent-graft repair of descending thoracic aortic disease when the repair covers the origin of the left subclavian artery.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 33880 in Michigan.
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 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 in Michigan
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | Unavailable | $1,431.46 |
| Rest of Michigan | Unavailable | $1,299.26 |
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.
How the rate is built · 33880
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work26.33
26.33 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense5.63
5.63 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice6.58
6.58 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
38.5400
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,287.27
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 33880
33880 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 33880
Thoracic endovascular repair, left subclavian origin covered
| 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 · 33880
Thoracic endovascular repair, left subclavian origin covered
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
33880 without 51 · national facility
$1,287.27
Thoracic endovascular repair, left subclavian origin covered
33880-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$643.64
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%).
33880 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
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.
33880 billing questions
How does this differ from 33881?
33880 is selected when the endograft covers the left subclavian artery origin. Use 33881 when the repair does not cover that origin.
Can an extension placed during the initial repair be reported separately?
Extensions placed as part of the initial repair are included in the endovascular repair. Delayed placement of an extension is described by separate codes, such as 33883 or 33886, depending on its location.
What documentation supports 33880?
Document the descending thoracic aortic condition, the endograft repair, and the relationship of the deployed graft to the left subclavian artery origin. The record should make clear that the origin was covered.
Is modifier 50 appropriate?
No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code because of the descriptor and anatomy.
May an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
CMS permits payment for an assistant at surgery and for co-surgeons. The operative record should identify each surgeon's role and work; team surgery is not permitted.
How does the 90-day global period affect postoperative claims?
The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global period. When other procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures receive the standard multiple-procedure 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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