Billing code 33250: Cardiac ablationMedicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Reports operative destruction of a cardiac arrhythmia focus or pathway when the surgeon performs the ablation without cardiopulmonary bypass.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 33250 in Florida.
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 33250 covers
This service is surgical ablation of a localized source or conducting pathway responsible for an abnormal heart rhythm, performed without cardiopulmonary bypass. A cardiac surgeon typically performs it in an operating room, sometimes with an electrophysiologist involved in identifying the target. It is distinct from catheter-based ablation and from procedures aimed at broader atrial tissue, such as surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation.
Report 33250 when the operative target is a dysrhythmic focus or pathway and the operation is performed without bypass. The operative report should identify the rhythm or pathway treated, the target and ablation performed, and whether bypass was used. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 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. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; 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.
Where 33250 pays more and less in Florida
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | Unavailable | $1,559.60 |
| Miami | Unavailable | $1,714.99 |
| Rest Of Florida | Unavailable | $1,478.22 |
How the 33250 rate is calculated
Each of 33250’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 · 33250
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 25.25Practice expense 10.37Malpractice 6.05
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 33250
33250 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 33250
Cardiac ablation
| 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 · 33250
Cardiac ablation
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
33250 without 51 · national facility
$1,391.82
Cardiac ablation
33250-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$695.91
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%).
33250 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
33250 vs 33251 vs 33254 vs 33255 vs 33256: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 33251Surgical ablation
- Use 33250 when the operative ablation is performed without cardiopulmonary bypass; 33251 is the corresponding bypass code.
- 33254Atrial ablation
- 33254 describes limited surgical ablation of atrial tissue. Use 33250 for operative treatment of a dysrhythmic focus or pathway.
- 33255Atrial ablation
- 33255 describes extensive atrial tissue ablation without bypass, rather than treatment of a localized dysrhythmic focus or pathway.
- 33256Atrial ablation
- 33256 describes extensive atrial tissue ablation with bypass. 33250 concerns a dysrhythmic focus or pathway and is performed without bypass.
33250 billing questions
How is 33250 distinguished from 33251?
The distinction is use of cardiopulmonary bypass: 33250 is for operative ablation without bypass; 33251 is the bypass counterpart.
Is this code for catheter ablation?
No. It describes operative ablation of a dysrhythmic focus or pathway, not an electrophysiology catheter ablation.
How does 33250 differ from the atrial ablation codes?
33250 targets a dysrhythmic focus or pathway. Codes 33254–33256 describe surgical ablation of atrial tissue, with code selection reflecting extent and bypass use.
What should the operative report document?
Document the rhythm or pathway treated, the operative target and ablation performed, and whether cardiopulmonary bypass was used.
Can modifier 50 be reported?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code.
How are multiple procedures and surgical assistants handled?
For procedures in the same session, CMS pays the highest-valued procedure in full and others at 50%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation.
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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