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CPT code 34820: Iliac exposure2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports open iliac artery exposure through an abdominal or retroperitoneal incision when needed to deliver an endovascular prosthesis during a qualifying repair.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities56 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $304.28 for 34820 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 34820

Iliac exposure

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
6.83
Total RVUs
9.11
Global days
ZZZ

National rate · 2026

$304.28

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 34820 →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.

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 34820 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 34820 covers

A vascular surgeon or other qualified surgeon uses an abdominal or retroperitoneal incision to expose an iliac artery so an endovascular prosthesis can be delivered through that access. This is an open access procedure, distinct from gaining access through a groin incision to expose the femoral artery. Code 34820 describes exposure without the conduit creation identified by code 34833.

Report 34820 only as an add-on with a qualifying primary procedure, such as an endovascular aortic repair; it is not a stand-alone service. The operative report should identify the iliac artery exposed, the open approach, and its role in delivering the prosthesis. CMS places the add-on service within the primary procedure’s global period. For bilateral exposure, modifier 50 is paid at 150% under the stated CMS rule.

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 34820 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

34820 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$276.80
AlaskaUnavailable$393.42
ArizonaUnavailable$295.35
ArkansasUnavailable$273.55
Atlanta, GAUnavailable$316.94
Austin, TXUnavailable$299.16
Bakersfield, CAUnavailable$287.62
Baltimore area, MDUnavailable$323.02
Beaumont, TXUnavailable$298.53
Brazoria, TXUnavailable$293.16

34820 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
34820 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 34820 rate is calculated

Each of 34820’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 · 34820

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work6.83

6.83 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.54

0.54 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice1.74

1.74 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

9.1100

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$304.28

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 34820

The CMS indicators that decide how 34820 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 34820

Iliac exposure

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodZZZAdd-on code: falls within the primary procedure’s global period.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
Bilateral (modifier 50)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)2Paid.
Co-surgeons (62)2Permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

34820 without 50 · national facility

$304.28

Iliac exposure

34820-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$456.42

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).

When to use modifier 50

34820 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

34820 vs 34812 vs 34833: Medicare rates

Office or facility?

  • 34820

    Iliac exposure6.83 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 34812

    Femoral exposure4.03 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 34833

    Iliac access7.96 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

34812Femoral exposure
34812 describes open femoral artery exposure through a groin approach. Choose 34820 for iliac artery exposure through an abdominal or retroperitoneal incision.
34833Iliac access
Both concern open iliac exposure for endovascular prosthesis delivery. Code 34833 is used when conduit creation is performed; 34820 describes exposure without that feature.

Codes related to 34820

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

Codes related to 34820
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Used instead
34812Femoral exposureOpen femoral rather than iliac artery exposure for endovascular prosthesis delivery.No office rate
34833Iliac accessRelated open iliac exposure when conduit creation is performed.No office rate

34820 billing questions

When should 34820 be chosen instead of 34812?

Use 34820 for open iliac artery exposure through an abdominal or retroperitoneal incision. Code 34812 describes open femoral artery exposure through a groin approach.

How does 34820 differ from 34833?

Code 34820 describes open iliac exposure for prosthesis delivery without conduit creation. Code 34833 is the related option when a conduit is created.

Can 34820 be billed by itself?

No. CMS identifies it as an add-on code, so it must be reported with a qualifying primary procedure.

How is bilateral iliac exposure reported?

When the procedure is bilateral, report modifier 50. CMS pays the bilateral service at 150%.

What should the operative note support?

Document the side and artery exposed, the abdominal or retroperitoneal approach, and that the exposure provided access for endovascular prosthesis delivery.

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 34820PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 4,228 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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