Billing code 35571: Arterial bypassMedicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
Reports a vein-graft bypass from the popliteal artery to a tibial, peroneal, or other distal artery to restore lower-extremity blood flow.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 35571 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 35571 covers
A vascular surgeon uses a vein graft to route blood from the popliteal artery around an obstructed segment to a tibial, peroneal, or other distal artery. The operation is used for lower-extremity arterial occlusive disease when revascularization to a distal target is needed, such as in a patient with limb-threatening ischemia. It is typically performed in a hospital operating room.
Report the bypass when the operative record supports a popliteal inflow artery, a distal arterial outflow target, and a vein-graft technique. The 90-day global period includes 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 other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. 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.
Where 35571 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 | $1,482.56 |
| East St. Louis | Unavailable | $1,403.64 |
| Rest Of Illinois | Unavailable | $1,306.59 |
| Suburban Chicago | Unavailable | $1,374.73 |
How the 35571 rate is calculated
Each of 35571’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 · 35571
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 24.88Practice expense 4.69Malpractice 6.37
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 35571
35571 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 35571
Arterial 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 · 35571
Arterial 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
35571 without 50 · national facility
$1,200.43
Arterial bypass
35571-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,800.65
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).
35571 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
35571 vs 35566 vs 35570 vs 35587: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 35566Leg bypass
- Choose 35566 when the bypass begins at the femoral artery and reaches a tibial, peroneal, or related distal artery; choose 35571 when inflow is popliteal.
- 35570Arterial bypass
- Code 35570 describes a bypass between tibial or peroneal arteries. This code uses the popliteal artery as the inflow source.
- 35587Vein bypass
- Code 35587 is for an in-situ vein bypass from popliteal to a distal vessel. This code is for a vein-graft bypass not described as in situ.
35571 billing questions
How is this code distinguished from 35566?
This code describes a bypass originating at the popliteal artery. Code 35566 describes a bypass originating at the femoral artery and extending to a tibial, peroneal, or related distal target.
When is 35587 a better fit?
Use 35587 when the procedure is an in-situ vein bypass from the popliteal artery to a tibial, peroneal, or other distal vessel. This code describes a vein-graft bypass that is not reported as an in-situ bypass.
What operative details support reporting this code?
The operative report should identify the popliteal inflow, the distal outflow artery, and the vein-graft bypass technique. It should also describe the bypass performed and the treated arterial disease.
How is bilateral surgery handled?
CMS lists bilateral reporting with modifier 50 at 150%. The global period is 90 days, including the day-before preoperative visit and 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
Fee sheets
Put 35571 and the rest of your codes on one sheet
Build a fee sheet from your own code list at your locality, put your payer contracts beside Medicare, and see what changed each quarter.
Build my fee sheetOr price your code list free →