FeeBase
Log inGet started
Menu

Billing code 33910: Pulmonary embolectomyMedicare rate & RVUs

Open removal of embolic material from the pulmonary artery using cardiopulmonary bypass, typically for a serious pulmonary embolism requiring surgical treatment.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities41 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $2,454.63 for 33910 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 33910

Pulmonary embolectomy

Work RVUs
47
Total RVUs
73.49
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$2,454.63

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 33910 →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 33910 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 33910 covers

This service involves surgically removing obstructing embolic material from the pulmonary artery while the patient is supported by cardiopulmonary bypass. A cardiothoracic surgeon typically performs it in an operating room for a serious pulmonary embolism when operative embolectomy is selected. The work centers on clearing the pulmonary artery; it is distinct from treating chronic pulmonary artery obstruction through a percutaneous revascularization approach.

Report this code when the operative record supports pulmonary artery embolectomy performed with cardiopulmonary bypass. Documentation should identify the embolic disease, the operative removal, and use of bypass. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. When multiple procedures occur 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 service. 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 33910 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

33910 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$2,227.51
Alaska*Unavailable$3,103.24
ArizonaUnavailable$2,384.59
ArkansasUnavailable$2,200.16
AtlantaUnavailable$2,543.26
AustinUnavailable$2,444.23
BakersfieldUnavailable$2,385.75
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$2,606.18
BeaumontUnavailable$2,382.17
BrazoriaUnavailable$2,379.66

33910 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

Explore a state

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
33910 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 33910 rate is calculated

Each of 33910’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 · 33910

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Work47.00

47.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense15.20

15.20 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice11.29

11.29 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

73.4900

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$2,454.63

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 33910

33910 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 33910

Pulmonary embolectomy

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period090Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)2Paid.
Co-surgeons (62)1Permitted with supporting documentation.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.09/0.84/0.07Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 33910

Pulmonary embolectomy

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.

  • 24Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78Unplanned return to the operating room for a related complication
SurgeryVisit
Sep 23, 2026Jan 10, 2027

Pre-op dayGlobal period

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

33910 without 51 · national facility

$2,454.63

Pulmonary embolectomy

33910-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$1,227.32

When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).

When to use modifier 51

33910 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

  • 33910

    Pulmonary embolectomy47 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 33915

    Pulmonary embolectomy24.33 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 33900

    Pulmonary artery treatment10.75 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 33917

    Pulmonary artery repair24.67 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

33915Pulmonary embolectomy
Choose 33910 when the pulmonary artery embolectomy is performed with cardiopulmonary bypass. Code 33915 is for the procedure without bypass.
33900Pulmonary artery treatment
33900 describes percutaneous pulmonary artery revascularization, not open removal of embolic material with cardiopulmonary bypass.
33917Pulmonary artery repair
33917 concerns pulmonary artery repair. Use 33910 for embolic material removal with bypass, rather than repair of the artery.

Codes related to 33910

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

Codes related to 33910
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Used instead
33915Pulmonary embolectomyPulmonary artery embolectomy without cardiopulmonary bypass.No office rate
33900Pulmonary artery treatmentPercutaneous pulmonary artery revascularization using a different approach.No office rate
33901Pulmonary artery treatmentBilateral percutaneous pulmonary artery revascularization, rather than open embolectomy.No office rate
33902Pulmonary artery revascularizationPercutaneous pulmonary artery revascularization for an abnormal vessel.No office rate
33903Pulmonary artery revascularizationBilateral percutaneous revascularization for abnormal pulmonary arteries.No office rate

33910 billing questions

How is 33910 distinguished from 33915?

33910 is for pulmonary artery embolectomy performed with cardiopulmonary bypass. 33915 describes the corresponding embolectomy without bypass.

What documentation supports reporting 33910?

The operative report should establish removal of embolic material from the pulmonary artery and use of cardiopulmonary bypass. It should also describe the operative service performed.

Does the 90-day global period include postoperative care?

Yes. The global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.

Should modifier 50 be appended for emboli in both pulmonary arteries?

No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this service; report the procedure without treating it as a bilateral service.

How are other procedures in the same session paid?

The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction.

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 33910PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 4,114 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

Did this answer your question about what 33910 pays?

Tell us what you were actually trying to work out. We’ll answer you directly, or build the page that does.

Fee sheets

Put 33910 and the rest of your codes on one sheet

Build a fee sheet from your own code list at your locality, put your payer contracts beside Medicare, and see what changed each quarter.

Build my fee sheetOr price your code list free →