Billing code 33370: Embolic protectionMedicare rate & RVUs in Guam
Reports percutaneous placement and removal of a cerebral embolic protection device during transcatheter aortic valve replacement to capture embolic debris.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 33370 in Guam.
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 33370 covers
During transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), the operator places a temporary embolic protection device through percutaneous vascular access and positions it to protect cerebral vessels from debris released during the valve procedure. The device is removed before the procedure ends. Structural heart teams, including interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons, perform this work in a hospital catheterization or hybrid operating room. The service includes radiological supervision and interpretation for the device placement and removal.
Report 33370 only with the applicable TAVR primary procedure; it is not a stand-alone service. The TAVR approach and operative work determine the primary code, while 33370 identifies the additional embolic-protection service. Documentation should support device placement and removal during TAVR, including the procedural record identifying the protection device and its use. CMS classifies 33370 as an add-on code paid within the primary procedure's global period.
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.
33370 in Hawaii, Guam
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii, Guam | Unavailable | $109.99 |
How the 33370 rate is calculated
Each of 33370’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 · 33370
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work2.44
2.44 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense0.46
0.46 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.57
0.57 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
3.4700
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$115.90
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 33370
The CMS indicators that decide how 33370 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 33370
Embolic protection
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | ZZZ | Add-on code: falls within the primary procedure’s global period. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
33370 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 33361TAVR
- 33361 reports the primary percutaneous transfemoral TAVR. Code 33370 reports the additional cerebral embolic-protection service performed during TAVR.
- 33366TAVR
- 33366 reports the primary transaortic TAVR procedure. Code 33370 identifies cerebral embolic protection performed in addition to the TAVR.
- 33340Appendage closure
- 33340 reports percutaneous closure of the left atrial appendage, not embolic protection during aortic valve replacement.
33370 billing questions
Can 33370 be reported by itself?
No. It is an add-on code and must be billed with the applicable TAVR primary procedure.
Which primary procedure determines the TAVR code?
Select the primary TAVR code based on the procedure's access route and operative approach. Report 33370 separately as the cerebral embolic-protection service when performed.
Does 33370 include imaging guidance?
Yes. The service includes radiological supervision and interpretation for placement and removal of the embolic protection device.
What documentation supports reporting 33370?
The operative record should show that the protection device was placed and removed during TAVR and identify its use in the procedure.
How does CMS treat payment for this add-on code?
CMS pays it within the global period of the TAVR primary procedure; it is not payable as a stand-alone service.
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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