CPT code 35531: Visceral bypass2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
Open vein-graft bypass from the aorta to a celiac or mesenteric artery to restore blood flow in selected visceral arterial occlusive disease.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 35531 in Illinois.
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 35531 covers
Code 35531 represents open arterial revascularization using a vein conduit from the aorta to either the celiac artery or a mesenteric artery. Vascular surgeons may use this configuration for visceral arterial occlusive disease, including chronic mesenteric ischemia, when restoring inflow to the affected territory is indicated. The operative report should identify the aortic inflow, the celiac or mesenteric outflow target, and the vein graft used; a different target vessel or conduit changes code selection.
Select the code based on the documented destination and vein conduit, with operative details supporting the graft route and anastomoses. CMS assigns a 90-day major-surgery 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 the others at 50%. For a bilateral procedure reported with modifier 50, payment is at 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; 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 35531 pays more and less in Illinois
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | Unavailable | $2,202.61 |
| East St. Louis | Unavailable | $2,087.52 |
| Rest Of Illinois | Unavailable | $1,939.15 |
| Suburban Chicago | Unavailable | $2,035.69 |
How the 35531 rate is calculated
Each of 35531’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 · 35531
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work38.13
38.13 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense5.10
5.10 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice9.77
9.77 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
53.0000
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,770.25
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 35531
35531 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 35531
Visceral 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) | 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 · 35531
Visceral 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 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
35531 without 50 · national facility
$1,770.25
Visceral bypass
35531-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$2,655.38
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).
35531 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 35631Aortic bypass
- Both codes describe an aortoceliac or aortomesenteric bypass. Choose 35531 for a vein conduit and 35631 for a conduit other than vein.
- 35535Renal artery bypass
- 35535 identifies a hepatorenal bypass, not a bypass from the aorta to the celiac or mesenteric artery.
- 35536Arterial bypass
- 35536 is for a splenorenal bypass. The destination vessels, rather than the general visceral revascularization purpose, distinguish it from 35531.
- 35560Renal bypass
- 35560 describes an aortorenal vein bypass. Use 35531 when the documented outflow target is celiac or mesenteric rather than renal.
35531 billing questions
How does 35531 differ from 35631?
35531 is for an aortoceliac or aortomesenteric bypass using a vein conduit. 35631 is the corresponding bypass category when the conduit is other than vein.
Which destination supports 35531?
The bypass must run from the aorta to the celiac artery or a mesenteric artery. The operative report should identify the actual inflow and outflow vessels.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How are other same-session procedures paid?
CMS pays the highest-valued procedure in full and other procedures at 50% when multiple procedures are performed in the same session.
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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