Billing code 35271: Vascular graft repairMedicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $1,322.34 for 35271 nationally in a facility.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 35271 covers

This code represents open reconstruction of a blood vessel within the chest using a graft made from material other than vein, with a bypass as part of the repair. Vascular and cardiothoracic surgeons may perform the service during operations for vessel injury or disease requiring restoration of blood flow. The operative report should establish the intrathoracic site and describe the graft reconstruction and bypass performed.

Select this code when the documented repair uses a non-vein graft and includes bypass; a direct repair or vein graft reconstruction falls into a different code. Documentation should identify the vessel, graft material, and bypass configuration. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. 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% reduction. For a bilateral procedure reported with modifier 50, payment is 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons require 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 35271 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

35271 rates by state

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

How the 35271 rate is calculated

Each of 35271’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 35271

35271 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 50

35271 compared with similar codes

How to choose

35276Vessel repair

Both involve an intrathoracic vessel and a graft other than vein. The distinguishing feature is bypass: 35271 includes it, while 35276 is for repair without bypass.

35241Vascular repair

Both describe intrathoracic bypass repair, but 35241 uses a vein graft; this code uses a graft other than vein.

35211Vessel repair

Both are intrathoracic repairs with bypass. Use 35211 for direct vessel repair without graft reconstruction; use this code when a non-vein graft is used.

Codes related to 35271

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

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates