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Billing code 33983: VAD pump replacementMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports replacement of an implanted intracorporeal ventricular assist device pump when cardiopulmonary bypass is used during the exchange.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities33 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $2,096.91 for 33983 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 33983

VAD pump replacement

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
43.43
Total RVUs
62.78
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

$2,096.91

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 33983 → · 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 33983 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 33983 covers

This service covers exchanging the pump of an implanted intracorporeal ventricular assist device, with cardiopulmonary bypass used during the operation. A cardiothoracic surgeon typically performs the procedure in a hospital operating room. The patient already has an implanted VAD; this is pump replacement, not placement of a new VAD or replacement of an external pump. The bypass detail distinguishes this service from the corresponding intracorporeal pump replacement performed without bypass.

Select the code based on the device being replaced and whether cardiopulmonary bypass was used. The operative report should identify the implanted intracorporeal pump exchange and document bypass use. The replacement service describes the exchange; do not separately report removal of the pump being replaced as though it were an independent removal procedure. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, CMS pays the highest-valued procedure in full and reduces the others to 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 33983 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

33983 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$1,908.47
Alaska*Unavailable$2,685.16
ArizonaUnavailable$2,037.51
ArkansasUnavailable$1,885.94
AtlantaUnavailable$2,176.05
AustinUnavailable$2,077.38
BakersfieldUnavailable$2,016.86
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$2,224.43
BeaumontUnavailable$2,045.36
BrazoriaUnavailable$2,029.19

33983 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
33983 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 33983 rate is calculated

Each of 33983’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 · 33983

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 43.43Practice expense 8.92Malpractice 10.43

62.7800 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$2,096.91

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 33983

The CMS indicators that decide how 33983 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 33983

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

33983 without 51 · national facility

$2,096.91

VAD pump replacement

33983-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$1,048.46

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

33983 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

33983 vs 33982 vs 33981 vs 33979: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

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

How to choose

33982VAD pump replacement
Choose 33983 for intracorporeal pump replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass; choose 33982 for the corresponding replacement without bypass.
33981VAD pump replacement
33981 describes replacement of an external VAD pump. Code 33983 is for an implanted intracorporeal pump and includes the bypass distinction.
33979Ventricular assist device
33979 describes insertion of an intracorporeal VAD, not exchange of the pump in an already implanted device.

Codes related to 33983

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

Codes related to 33983
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Used instead
33982VAD pump replacementIntracorporeal VAD pump replacement when cardiopulmonary bypass is not used.No office rate
33979Ventricular assist deviceFor intracorporeal VAD insertion rather than exchange of an existing pump.No office rate
Same family
33981VAD pump replacementRelated pump replacement code for an external VAD pump.No office rate

33983 billing questions

How does this differ from 33982?

Both describe replacement of an implanted intracorporeal VAD pump. Use 33983 when cardiopulmonary bypass is used; 33982 describes the exchange without bypass.

Can the pump removal be reported separately?

Do not report a separate removal code merely for taking out the pump being replaced; 33983 describes the pump exchange.

What documentation supports 33983?

The operative report should identify the intracorporeal VAD pump being exchanged and document use of cardiopulmonary bypass during the procedure.

How are other procedures paid when performed in the same session?

Under the CMS multiple procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the other procedures are paid at 50%.

Is 33983 for replacing an external VAD pump?

No. It is for an implanted intracorporeal pump; 33981 is the related code for replacement of an external VAD pump.

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 33983PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 4,167 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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