CPT code 37271: Atherectomy, straightforward, initial vessel2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California
Reports endovascular atherectomy for a straightforward femoral or popliteal artery lesion, for the first treated vessel on one side.
Medicare pays $11,515.56–$15,071.09 for 37271 in the office in California, from Chico, CA to San Benito County, CA. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
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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On this page 9 sections
What 37271 covers
This code covers catheter-based atherectomy to treat atherosclerotic disease in a femoral or popliteal artery. Vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists, and interventional cardiologists may perform it for lower-extremity peripheral artery disease. It applies to a straightforward lesion in the initial vessel treated on that side. Angioplasty performed in the same vessel is included when done with the atherectomy.
Select this code based on the treated artery, lesion classification, treatment method, and whether it is the first vessel. The procedure report should identify the vessel and document the atherectomy and lesion characteristics supporting the straightforward classification. A 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. For bilateral treatment, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; co-surgeons and team surgery are 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 37271 pays more and less in California
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
29 payment localities
$11515.56 to $15071.09
29 of 29 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | $11,521.04 | $395.32 |
| Chico, CA | $11,515.56 | $389.85 |
| El Centro, CA | $11,515.90 | $390.18 |
| Fresno, CA | $11,515.56 | $389.85 |
| Hanford, CA | $11,515.56 | $389.85 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $12,418.32 | $409.45 |
| Madera, CA | $11,515.56 | $389.85 |
| Marin County, CA | $14,735.19 | $421.99 |
| Merced, CA | $11,515.56 | $389.85 |
| Modesto, CA | $11,515.56 | $389.85 |
| Napa, CA | $13,790.87 | $411.59 |
| Oxnard, CA | $12,401.48 | $402.76 |
| Redding, CA | $11,515.56 | $389.85 |
| Rest of California | $11,515.56 | $389.85 |
| Riverside, CA | $11,537.04 | $411.32 |
| Sacramento, CA | $12,204.36 | $398.51 |
| Salinas, CA | $12,162.07 | $396.83 |
| San Benito County, CA | $15,071.09 | $433.06 |
| San Diego, CA | $12,539.40 | $398.56 |
| San Francisco, CA | $14,732.92 | $419.72 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $11,953.96 | $391.74 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | $15,061.80 | $423.77 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $12,730.00 | $396.29 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $12,232.54 | $396.24 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $12,865.25 | $399.57 |
| Stockton, CA | $11,515.56 | $389.85 |
| Vallejo, CA | $13,787.60 | $408.32 |
| Visalia, CA | $11,515.56 | $389.85 |
| Yuba City, CA | $11,515.56 | $389.85 |
How the 37271 rate is calculated
Each of 37271’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 · 37271
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work9.00
9.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense305.24
305.24 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice2.00
2.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
316.2400
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$10,562.70
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 37271
The CMS indicators that decide how 37271 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 37271
Atherectomy, straightforward, initial vessel
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is 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) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
37271 without 50 · national office
$10,562.70
Atherectomy, straightforward, initial vessel
37271-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$15,844.05
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).
37271 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 37272Vessel atherectomyEach additional simple artery
- 37271 is for atherectomy in the initial vessel; 37272 is for an additional vessel in the same territory and session.
- 37273Peripheral atherectomyComplex, initial vessel
- Both report femoral-popliteal atherectomy in an initial vessel, but 37273 is for a complex lesion rather than a straightforward one.
- 37275Leg artery revascularizationStraightforward lesion, initial vessel
- Use 37275 when the straightforward initial-vessel treatment includes both atherectomy and stenting; 37271 represents atherectomy without the combined stent service.
- 37263Leg angioplastySimple lesion, first vessel
- 37263 represents straightforward femoral-popliteal angioplasty without atherectomy. Angioplasty in the same vessel as atherectomy is included in 37271.
37271 billing questions
When is 37271 used instead of 37272?
Use 37271 for atherectomy of the initial vessel in the femoral-popliteal territory on that side. Code 37272 represents atherectomy of an additional vessel.
Can angioplasty in the treated vessel be reported separately?
Angioplasty performed in the same vessel as the atherectomy is included in this service. Do not separately report the angioplasty code for that same-vessel treatment.
What if a stent is also placed?
When atherectomy and stenting are performed in the vessel, compare the combined stent-and-atherectomy code, 37275, rather than treating this as atherectomy alone.
How should bilateral treatment be reported?
For bilateral procedures, modifier 50 applies; CMS pays the procedure at 150%.
What documentation supports the straightforward lesion classification?
Document the femoral or popliteal vessel treated, the lesion characteristics supporting the straightforward classification, and the atherectomy performed. Identify whether it was the initial vessel on that side.
Can an assistant surgeon be paid for this procedure?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is allowed only when medical necessity is documented. Co-surgeons and team surgery are 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
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