Billing code 35081: Aortic aneurysm repairMedicare rate & RVUs in Delaware
Reports open direct repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm that involves visceral vessel origins, such as the renal or mesenteric arteries.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 35081 in Delaware.
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 35081 covers
This code describes open surgical repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm involving visceral vessel origins, performed by direct reconstruction rather than graft-based replacement. The operation is typically performed by a vascular surgeon in a hospital operating room. The visceral anatomy matters: the aneurysm involves vessels such as the renal or mesenteric arteries, not just the abdominal aorta below their origins.
Select this code when the operative report supports both visceral-vessel involvement and direct repair. Documentation should identify the aneurysm’s extent, the involved vessel origins, and the reconstruction performed; a graft-based repair is coded differently. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this aortic repair. 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.
35081 in Delaware
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | Unavailable | $1,548.76 |
How the 35081 rate is calculated
Each of 35081’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 · 35081
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 32.69Practice expense 6.10Malpractice 8.33
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 35081
35081 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 35081
Aortic aneurysm repair
| 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 · 35081
Aortic aneurysm repair
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
35081 without 51 · national facility
$1,573.85
Aortic aneurysm repair
35081-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$786.93
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%).
35081 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
35081 vs 35082 vs 35091 vs 35092: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 35082Aortic rupture repair
- Both codes address an abdominal aortic aneurysm involving visceral vessels. Choose 35081 for direct repair and 35082 when the repair uses a graft.
- 35091Artery repair
- 35091 is for direct repair when the abdominal aortic aneurysm does not involve visceral vessels; 35081 includes visceral-vessel involvement.
- 35092Aortic rupture repair
- 35092 describes graft-based repair without visceral-vessel involvement. 35081 describes direct repair with visceral-vessel involvement.
35081 billing questions
How does 35081 differ from 35082?
Both concern abdominal aortic aneurysms involving visceral vessels. Use 35081 for direct repair; 35082 describes repair using a graft.
How do I distinguish 35081 from 35091?
The key distinction is visceral-vessel involvement. 35081 is for aneurysms involving visceral vessel origins; 35091 is for abdominal aortic aneurysms without visceral involvement that are directly repaired.
What operative documentation supports 35081?
The report should establish the aneurysm’s extent, identify the involved visceral vessel origins, and describe direct reconstruction rather than graft-based replacement.
Should modifier 50 be appended?
No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this aortic repair.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.
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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