CPT code 35703: Artery exploration, lower extremity, no repair2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Missouri
Report this service when a surgeon explores a surgically exposed lower extremity artery and completes the exploration without performing surgical repair.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 35703 in Missouri.
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 35703 covers
A vascular surgeon typically reports this service after exposing an artery in the leg or foot to investigate a suspected problem, such as an injury or an unexpected finding during surgery. The surgeon examines the exposed artery but does not repair it. The service is distinct from an operation in which the artery is repaired after exploration; the documented work must support exploration of a lower extremity artery, not a neck or upper extremity artery.
The operative report should identify the artery, the reason for exploration, the findings, and that no repair was performed. This major surgery code has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. 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% reduction. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; 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 35703 pays more and less in Missouri
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Kansas City, MO | Unavailable | $373.73 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MO | Unavailable | $376.20 |
| Rest of Missouri | Unavailable | $367.64 |
How the 35703 rate is calculated
Each of 35703’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 · 35703
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work7.31
7.31 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense2.30
2.30 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.76
1.76 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
11.3700
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$379.77
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 35703
35703 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 35703
Artery exploration, lower extremity, no repair
| 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 · 35703
Artery exploration, lower extremity, no repair
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
35703 without 50 · national facility
$379.77
Artery exploration, lower extremity, no repair
35703-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$569.66
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).
35703 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 35701Arterial explorationNeck artery, no repair
- Use 35701 for a surgically exposed neck artery. Use 35703 when the artery explored is in the lower extremity.
- 35702Artery explorationUpper extremity
- Use 35702 for a surgically exposed upper extremity artery; 35703 is for a lower extremity artery.
- 35226Vessel repairDirect repair, lower extremity
- 35703 describes exploration that ends without repair. 35226 describes direct repair of a lower extremity blood vessel.
35703 billing questions
How is this code distinguished from 35701 and 35702?
35703 applies to exploration of a surgically exposed lower extremity artery. Codes 35701 and 35702 describe the corresponding exploration for a neck artery and an upper extremity artery, respectively.
Can this code be reported when the artery is repaired?
No. This code describes exploration that concludes without surgical repair. If the surgeon repairs the artery, select the code that describes the repair performed.
What documentation supports reporting 35703?
Document the lower extremity artery explored, the indication and findings, and that no repair was performed. The operative note should support that the artery was surgically exposed and examined.
How does the 90-day global period affect postoperative care?
The global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. Those services are part of the global surgical period.
How is bilateral exploration reported?
Report modifier 50 when the procedure is performed bilaterally; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%. The operative documentation should support exploration on both sides.
May an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeons are paid only with supporting documentation, and 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
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