CPT code 33881: Thoracic endograft, left subclavian origin spared2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $1,080.85 for 33881 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 33881 covers

Code 33881 describes endograft repair of descending thoracic aortic disease, such as an aneurysm, dissection, or traumatic disruption, without coverage of the left subclavian artery origin. A vascular or cardiothoracic surgeon typically performs the repair in a hospital or other surgical facility, advancing the endograft through arterial access, commonly femoral or iliac. The code includes the initial device and any required extensions through the treated segment toward the celiac artery, along with imaging guidance, monitoring, radiological supervision and interpretation, and closure of the access site.

Select this code when the operative report supports descending thoracic aortic repair and confirms that the left subclavian artery origin is not covered; use 33880 when it is covered. Documentation should identify the aortic pathology, device deployment and coverage extent, and access closure. The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global period. For multiple procedures in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Assistant-at-surgery payment and co-surgeons 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 33881 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

33881 rates by state

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

How the 33881 rate is calculated

Each of 33881’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 33881

33881 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

33881 compared with similar codes

How to choose

33880Thoracic endovascular repairLeft subclavian origin covered

Both describe endovascular repair of the descending thoracic aorta; 33880 involves coverage of the left subclavian artery origin, while 33881 does not.

33882Thoracic endograftMultiple-component prosthesis

This related thoracic endovascular repair code addresses a different endoprosthesis configuration. Select based on the device arrangement documented for the repair.

33875Aortic graftDescending thoracic aorta

33875 describes open graft repair of the descending thoracic aorta. Choose 33881 for endovascular endograft repair without left subclavian origin coverage.

33883Aortic extensionDelayed, proximal placement

33883 describes delayed placement of a proximal extension prosthesis, rather than the initial endovascular thoracic aortic repair reported with 33881.

Codes related to 33881

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