CPT code 35525: Arterial bypass, brachial to brachial2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Maryland
Reports a vein-graft bypass connecting brachial arteries to reroute blood flow around an upper-extremity arterial obstruction or injury.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 35525 in Maryland.
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
On this page 9 sections
What 35525 covers
A vascular surgeon uses a vein graft to create a new route between brachial arteries when disease or injury disrupts blood flow through the usual arterial pathway. The procedure is performed in an operating room and may be considered for upper-extremity ischemia when the documented bypass runs from brachial artery to brachial artery. The named origin and destination distinguish this service from bypasses connecting the axillary, subclavian, radial, or ulnar arteries.
Select the code based on the bypass route and the use of a vein graft. The operative report should identify both anastomosis sites, the conduit, the indication, and the work performed; a separately reportable vein harvest may be coded with 35500 when applicable. This major surgery has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For same-session procedures, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; co-surgeons require supporting documentation, and 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 35525 pays more and less in Maryland
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore area, MD | Unavailable | $1,063.41 |
| Rest of Maryland | Unavailable | $994.67 |
| Washington, DC area | Unavailable | $1,079.89 |
How the 35525 rate is calculated
Each of 35525’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 · 35525
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work21.15
21.15 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense3.42
3.42 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice5.40
5.40 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
29.9700
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,001.02
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 35525
35525 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 35525
Arterial bypass, brachial to brachial
| 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) | 1 | Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| 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 · 35525
Arterial bypass, brachial to brachial
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 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
35525 without 50 · national facility
$1,001.02
Arterial bypass, brachial to brachial
35525-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,501.53
Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).
35525 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
35525 vs 35522 vs 35523: Medicare rates
How to choose
- 35522Arterial bypassAxillary to brachial
- Both describe vein-graft bypasses in the upper extremity, but 35522 uses an axillary-to-brachial route rather than a brachial-to-brachial route.
- 35523Arterial bypassBrachial to ulnar or radial
- 35523 applies when the bypass connects the brachial artery with forearm arteries, rather than connecting brachial arteries.
35525 billing questions
How is 35525 distinguished from 35522?
35525 describes a bypass running from brachial artery to brachial artery. Use 35522 when the documented route is axillary artery to brachial artery.
Does the graft material affect code selection?
Yes. Code 35525 represents a vein-graft bypass. For a brachial-to-brachial bypass using a material other than vein, compare 35625.
Can vein harvest be reported with the bypass?
A separately reportable vein harvest for the bypass may be coded with 35500 when applicable. The operative documentation should support the harvest.
How is bilateral 35525 reported?
When the procedure is performed bilaterally, report modifier 50; CMS pays bilateral reporting at 150%.
What payment rules apply when other procedures are performed in the same session?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are paid at 50%. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available. Co-surgeons are paid only with supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.
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
Fee sheets
Put 35525 and the rest of your codes on one sheet
Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.
Build my fee sheet