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Billing code 33982: VAD pump replacementMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports replacement of an implanted intracorporeal ventricular assist device pump when cardiopulmonary bypass is not used during the operation.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities

Medicare pays $1,781.27 for 33982 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 33982

VAD pump replacement

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
36.91
Total RVUs
53.33
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

$1,781.27

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 33982 → · 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 33982 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 33982 covers

This code describes operative replacement of the pump in an intracorporeal ventricular assist device (VAD), a form of mechanical circulatory support. It applies when the pump is implanted within the body and the replacement is performed without cardiopulmonary bypass. A cardiac surgeon typically performs the exchange in an operating room; the operative report should identify the pump being replaced and the bypass approach used.

Choose this code for an intracorporeal pump replacement without bypass, not for replacement of an external pump or an intracorporeal pump replacement performed with bypass. Documentation should establish that the service was a pump replacement, rather than initial VAD implantation or device removal alone. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, CMS applies the standard multiple procedure reduction: the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%.

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 33982 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

33982 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$1,621.37
Alaska*Unavailable$2,281.40
ArizonaUnavailable$1,730.87
ArkansasUnavailable$1,602.25
AtlantaUnavailable$1,848.43
AustinUnavailable$1,764.70
BakersfieldUnavailable$1,713.39
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$1,889.51
BeaumontUnavailable$1,737.53
BrazoriaUnavailable$1,723.83

33982 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
33982 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 33982 rate is calculated

Each of 33982’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 · 33982

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 36.91Practice expense 7.57Malpractice 8.85

53.3300 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$1,781.27

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 33982

The CMS indicators that decide how 33982 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 33982

VAD pump replacement

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
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)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

33982 without 51 · national facility

$1,781.27

VAD pump replacement

33982-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$890.64

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

33982 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

33982 vs 33983 vs 33981 vs 33979 vs 33980: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 33982
    VAD pump replacement · 36.91 wRVU
    —
  • 33983
    VAD pump replacement · 43.43 wRVU
    —
  • 33981
    VAD pump replacement · 15.71 wRVU
    —
  • 33979
    Ventricular assist device · 36.56 wRVU
    —
  • 33980
    VAD removal · 32.66 wRVU
    —

How to choose

33983VAD pump replacement
Both cover replacement of an intracorporeal VAD pump; the distinction is whether cardiopulmonary bypass is used.
33981VAD pump replacement
Use 33981 for replacement of an external VAD pump. Code 33982 is for an intracorporeal pump replaced without bypass.
33979Ventricular assist device
Code 33979 describes implantation of an intracorporeal VAD; 33982 describes replacement of an existing intracorporeal pump.
33980VAD removal
Code 33980 is for intracorporeal VAD removal, not replacement of the pump.

Codes related to 33982

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

Codes related to 33982
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
33983VAD pump replacementIntracorporeal VAD pump replacement when cardiopulmonary bypass is used.No office rate
33981VAD pump replacementVAD pump replacement when the pump is external.No office rate
Used instead
33979Ventricular assist deviceIntracorporeal VAD implantation rather than replacement of an existing pump.No office rate
33980VAD removalIntracorporeal VAD removal when the service is removal rather than pump replacement.No office rate

33982 billing questions

How does this differ from 33983?

Both describe replacement of an intracorporeal VAD pump. Use 33982 when cardiopulmonary bypass is not used and 33983 when it is used.

How does this differ from 33981?

Code 33981 is for replacement of an external VAD pump. Code 33982 is for an intracorporeal pump replaced without cardiopulmonary bypass.

What documentation supports 33982?

The operative report should identify the intracorporeal VAD pump that was replaced and state whether cardiopulmonary bypass was used.

Can another procedure be reported in the same session?

When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, CMS pays the highest-valued procedure in full and the others at 50% under the standard multiple procedure reduction.

Is 33982 for initial VAD implantation?

No. It describes replacement of an existing intracorporeal VAD pump; initial implantation is a different service.

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 33982PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 4,166 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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