Billing code 35637: Aortoiliac bypassMedicare rate & RVUs in Alaska
Reports open bypass from the abdominal aorta to one iliac artery using a non-vein graft, typically to restore flow in aortoiliac occlusive disease.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 35637 in Alaska.
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 9 sections
What 35637 covers
This code describes an open vascular bypass that routes blood from the abdominal aorta to one iliac artery using a conduit other than vein, commonly a prosthetic graft. A vascular surgeon typically performs it in a hospital operating room for significant aortoiliac occlusive disease when direct flow to the iliac circulation needs to be restored. The code is distinguished by the aortic inflow, the iliac outflow, and the non-vein conduit.
Choose the code from the operative report’s documented inflow, outflow, and conduit; a bypass to both iliac arteries or to a femoral artery has a different code. The report should support the treated vessels and graft used. This major operation has a 90-day global period that includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. When other procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. 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.
35637 in Alaska*
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska* | Unavailable | $1,932.22 |
How the 35637 rate is calculated
Each of 35637’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 · 35637
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 32.22Practice expense 4.67Malpractice 8.25
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 35637
35637 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 35637
Aortoiliac bypass
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.09/0.84/0.07 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 35637
Aortoiliac bypass
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.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
35637 without 51 · national facility
$1,507.72
Aortoiliac bypass
35637-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$753.86
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%).
35637 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
35637 vs 35638 vs 35646 vs 35647: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 35638Aortic bypass
- Use 35637 when the bypass runs from the aorta to one iliac artery; use 35638 when both iliac arteries are outflow targets.
- 35646Aortic bypass
- 35646 describes an aortic bypass to both femoral arteries. This code is for an iliac outflow target, not bilateral femoral targets.
- 35647Aortic bypass
- 35647 is for an aortic bypass to one femoral artery. Select this code when the documented distal target is femoral rather than iliac.
35637 billing questions
How is this code distinguished from 35638?
35637 is for a bypass from the aorta to one iliac artery. 35638 describes the aortic bypass when both iliac arteries are the outflow targets.
Should modifier 50 be reported?
No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply to this code, and modifier 50 is inappropriate for its descriptor and anatomy.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during the 90 days after surgery.
What documentation supports code selection?
The operative report should identify the aortic inflow, the iliac outflow target, and use of a conduit other than vein. These details distinguish this service from bypasses to both iliac arteries or to a femoral artery.
How are other same-session procedures paid?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures performed in the same session 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
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