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Billing code 33517: Combined CABGMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports one venous graft used during coronary bypass surgery that also includes arterial grafting, alongside the primary code for the arterial graft count.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities17.8K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $170.34 for 33517 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 33517

Combined CABG

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
3.52
Total RVUs
5.10
Global days
ZZZ

National rate · 2026

$170.34

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 33517 → · 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.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 33517 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 33517 covers

Code 33517 identifies one venous conduit used during coronary artery bypass surgery that also uses an arterial conduit. A cardiothoracic surgeon creates the bypass grafts in the operating room, commonly using a leg vein for the venous graft and an arterial conduit, such as an internal mammary artery, for another bypass. The arterial graft count is represented by the separate primary CABG code; 33517 captures the single venous graft in the combined operation.

Report 33517 only as an add-on with the applicable arterial CABG code from 33533–33536; it is not a stand-alone code for a venous-only operation. The operative report should establish that a venous graft was used and support the arterial graft count selected for the primary code. CMS places payment for 33517 within the primary procedure's global period. Code 33508 may describe endoscopic vein harvest when performed; harvesting is distinct from the graft count represented here.

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 33517 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

33517 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$154.77
Alaska*Unavailable$217.62
ArizonaUnavailable$165.42
ArkansasUnavailable$152.91
AtlantaUnavailable$176.92
AustinUnavailable$168.64
BakersfieldUnavailable$163.49
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$180.84
BeaumontUnavailable$166.15
BrazoriaUnavailable$164.68

33517 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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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
33517 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 33517 rate is calculated

Each of 33517’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 · 33517

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 3.52Practice expense 0.71Malpractice 0.87

5.1000 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$170.34

All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 33517

The CMS indicators that decide how 33517 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 33517

Combined CABG

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodZZZAdd-on code: falls within the primary procedure’s global period.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
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 80 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

33517 without 80 · national facility

$170.34

Combined CABG

33517-80 · Assistant: 16%

$27.25

A physician assistant at surgery is paid 16% of the surgeon’s fee schedule amount.

When to use modifier 80

33517 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

33517 vs 33510 vs 33518 vs 33533 vs 33508: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 33517
    Combined CABG · 3.52 wRVU
    —
  • 33510
    Coronary bypass · 34.11 wRVU
    —
  • 33518
    CABG grafts · 7.73 wRVU
    —
  • 33533
    Arterial CABG · 32.91 wRVU
    —
  • 33508
    Vein harvest · 0.3 wRVU
    —

How to choose

33510Coronary bypass
33510 describes a venous-only CABG with one venous graft. Use 33517 with an arterial CABG primary code when the operation also includes arterial grafting.
33518CABG grafts
Both are add-on levels for combined arterial-and-venous CABG; 33517 represents one venous graft, while 33518 represents two.
33533Arterial CABG
33533 represents a single arterial graft and serves as a primary code. Add 33517 when the combined operation also uses one venous graft.
33508Vein harvest
33508 describes endoscopic vein harvesting, not the venous graft used to perform the bypass. It may be reported with the CABG when that harvest service is performed.

Codes related to 33517

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

Codes related to 33517
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Add-on codes
33533Arterial CABGPrimary code for a single arterial graft in a combined CABG.No office rate
33534Arterial CABGPrimary code for two arterial grafts in a combined CABG.No office rate
33535Arterial CABGPrimary code for three arterial grafts in a combined CABG.No office rate
33536CABGPrimary code for four or more arterial grafts in a combined CABG.No office rate
Same family
33518CABG graftsCombined CABG add-on level for two venous grafts.No office rate
Used instead
33510Coronary bypassVenous-only CABG code for one venous graft, without arterial grafting.No office rate
Often billed with
33508Vein harvestDescribes endoscopic vein harvest that may accompany CABG.No office rate

33517 billing questions

Which primary code is reported with 33517?

Report it with the applicable arterial CABG code from 33533–33536. The primary code represents the arterial graft count, while 33517 represents one venous graft.

Can 33517 be reported for a venous-only bypass?

No. It is for a combined operation that includes venous and arterial grafting. A venous-only CABG is reported from the venous-only code series, such as 33510 for one venous graft.

When is 33518 used instead?

Use 33518 when the combined arterial-and-venous CABG includes two venous grafts. Code 33517 represents one venous graft.

Does 33517 include endoscopic vein harvesting?

No. The code represents the venous graft used in the bypass; 33508 describes endoscopic vein harvest when that service is performed.

What documentation supports 33517?

The operative report should establish use of one venous graft and document the arterial grafting that supports the separately reported primary CABG code.

How does CMS treat payment for 33517?

It is an add-on code reported only with a primary procedure, and CMS places its payment within that procedure's global period.

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 33517PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,989 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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