CPT code 35537: Aortoiliac bypass, vein conduit, iliac outflow2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $1,891.83 for 35537 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 35537 covers

This code represents an open arterial bypass from the aorta to an iliac artery using a vein conduit. Vascular surgeons typically perform it in an operating room to route blood around diseased or obstructed aortoiliac segments. The operative report should identify the bypass origin and outflow, the vein conduit, and the condition being treated so the documented reconstruction supports this code rather than a bypass ending in the femoral arteries or involving both iliac arteries.

Report the code for the aorta-to-iliac configuration, not for each anastomosis or each side as a separate service. The major-surgery global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires 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 35537 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

35537 rates by state

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

How the 35537 rate is calculated

Each of 35537’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 35537

35537 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

35537 compared with similar codes

How to choose

35538Aortic bypassAorta to both iliac arteries

35537 is for aortic bypass to an iliac artery; 35538 is the aortobi-iliac configuration, with outflow to both iliac arteries.

35539Aortic bypassSingle femoral target, vein conduit

Choose 35539 when the aortic bypass ends at a femoral artery rather than an iliac artery.

35540Aortic bypassAutogenous vein conduit

Choose 35540 for aortobifemoral bypass, with outflow to both femoral arteries; 35537 has iliac outflow.

Codes related to 35537

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