Billing code 34203: Arterial thrombectomyMedicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Reports open removal of an embolus or thrombus from the popliteal-tibio-peroneal arterial territory through a leg incision, with or without catheter assistance.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 34203 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 34203 covers
A vascular surgeon uses a leg incision to reach the popliteal-tibio-peroneal arterial territory and remove an obstructing embolus or thrombus. The surgeon may pass a catheter through the opened artery to help clear the vessel. This is an open operation for arterial obstruction affecting lower-extremity blood flow, such as an acute limb ischemia presentation when this arterial territory is treated.
Choose this code when the operative report supports clot removal in the popliteal-tibio-peroneal arteries; the femoropopliteal territory is represented by a different code. Documentation should identify the treated arterial segment, the leg incision, and the clot-removal work. The code has 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 the others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; 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 34203 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 | $983.96 |
| Miami | Unavailable | $1,094.60 |
| Rest Of Florida | Unavailable | $931.17 |
How the 34203 rate is calculated
Each of 34203’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 · 34203
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 17.41Practice expense 3.97Malpractice 4.44
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 34203
34203 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 34203
Arterial thrombectomy
| 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) | 1 | Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount. |
| 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 · 34203
Arterial thrombectomy
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 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
34203 without 50 · national facility
$862.41
Arterial thrombectomy
34203-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,293.62
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).
34203 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
34203 vs 34201 vs 37184 vs 37211: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 34201Arterial embolectomy
- Both describe open arterial clot removal through a leg incision, but the treated arterial territory distinguishes them: femoropopliteal for 34201 and popliteal-tibio-peroneal for 34203.
- 37184Arterial thrombectomy
- 37184 describes percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy of an initial vessel. Use 34203 for the open leg-incision clot-removal procedure in the popliteal-tibio-peroneal territory.
- 37211Arterial thrombolysis
- 37211 represents catheter-directed thrombolysis in an artery. It describes infusion-based clot treatment rather than the open surgical removal reported with 34203.
34203 billing questions
How does this differ from 34201?
Use 34203 for clot removal in the popliteal-tibio-peroneal arterial territory. Code 34201 represents the femoropopliteal territory.
Can catheter assistance be part of this service?
Yes. The open clot-removal service can include catheter assistance; the operative report should identify the treated arterial territory and removal work.
When is modifier 50 relevant?
For a bilateral procedure, modifier 50 applies under the CMS bilateral rule, with payment at 150%.
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?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available. Co-surgeons are paid only with 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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