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CPT code 33975: Ventricular assist device, extracorporeal, biventricular2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports surgical placement of an external ventricular assist system providing temporary support to both sides of the heart, commonly for severe cardiac failure.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities408 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $1,178.05 for 33975 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 33975

Ventricular assist device, extracorporeal, biventricular

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
24.38
Total RVUs
35.27
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

$1,178.05

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 33975 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

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

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 33975 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 33975 covers

This service covers surgical placement of an extracorporeal ventricular assist system configured to support both the right and left sides of the heart. A cardiac surgeon typically performs it in an operating room for severe cardiac failure, such as cardiogenic shock or postcardiotomy failure, when temporary mechanical circulatory support is needed. The system uses cannulae and an external pump to assist circulation; it is distinct from an implanted intracorporeal pump.

Select this code when the placed extracorporeal system provides biventricular support, rather than support of only one ventricle. The operative report should identify the device configuration, cannulation and pump placement, and the clinical need for support. When this and other procedures are performed in the same session, CMS applies the standard multiple procedure reduction: the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%.

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 33975 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

33975 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$1,070.45
AlaskaUnavailable$1,505.50
ArizonaUnavailable$1,144.05
ArkansasUnavailable$1,057.59
Atlanta, GAUnavailable$1,223.51
Austin, TXUnavailable$1,166.19
Bakersfield, CAUnavailable$1,130.52
Baltimore area, MDUnavailable$1,250.61
Beaumont, TXUnavailable$1,149.13
Brazoria, TXUnavailable$1,138.86

33975 rates by state

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

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Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

View every state and territory as a table
33975 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 33975 rate is calculated

Each of 33975’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 · 33975

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work24.38

24.38 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense4.87

4.87 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice6.02

6.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

35.2700

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$1,178.05

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 33975

The CMS indicators that decide how 33975 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 33975

Ventricular assist device, extracorporeal, biventricular

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)2Paid.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

33975 without 51 · national facility

$1,178.05

Ventricular assist device, extracorporeal, biventricular

33975-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$589.03

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%).

When to use modifier 51

33975 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

5 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 33975

    Ventricular assist device, extracorporeal, biventricular24.38 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 33976

    Ventricular assist device, extracorporeal, both ventricles29.98 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 33979

    Ventricular assist device, implantable, single ventricle36.56 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 33977

    VAD removal, extracorporeal, single ventricle20.34 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 33967

    Balloon pump insertion, percutaneous approach4.72 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

33976Ventricular assist deviceExtracorporeal, both ventricles
Use 33975 for extracorporeal support of both ventricles; 33976 identifies an extracorporeal system supporting one ventricle.
33979Ventricular assist deviceImplantable, single ventricle
33979 is for an intracorporeal ventricular assist device. This code describes an extracorporeal system.
33977VAD removalExtracorporeal, single ventricle
33977 describes removal of an extracorporeal biventricular assist system, not its placement.
33967Balloon pump insertionPercutaneous approach
33967 describes percutaneous intra-aortic balloon assist device insertion, not surgical placement of an extracorporeal biventricular pump system.

Codes related to 33975

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

Codes related to 33975
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
33976Ventricular assist device, extracorporeal, both ventriclesExtracorporeal ventricular assist placement configured for single-ventricle support.No office rate
33977VAD removal, extracorporeal, single ventricleRemoval code for an extracorporeal biventricular assist system.No office rate
33978VAD removal, extracorporeal, single ventricleRemoval code for an extracorporeal single-ventricle assist system.No office rate
Used instead
33979Ventricular assist device, implantable, single ventriclePlacement of an intracorporeal ventricular assist device rather than an extracorporeal system.No office rate
33967Balloon pump insertion, percutaneous approachPercutaneous intra-aortic balloon support, a different form of circulatory assistance.No office rate

33975 billing questions

How does this differ from 33976?

This code is for an extracorporeal system supporting both ventricles. Use 33976 when the extracorporeal device supports a single ventricle.

Does biventricular support mean reporting two units?

The defining distinction is the device configuration: support of both sides of the heart. Document that configuration rather than counting each ventricle as a separate service.

What documentation supports reporting this code?

The operative report should describe placement of the extracorporeal pump system, the cannulation and support configuration, and the need for biventricular assistance.

How does CMS reduce payment when other procedures are performed?

For procedures performed in the same session, CMS pays the highest-valued procedure in full and the others at 50% under 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

Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
RVUs for 33975PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 4,159 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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