Billing code 33859: Aortic graftMedicare rate & RVUs in Kansas
Open graft replacement of the ascending aorta for aneurysmal or other non-dissection disease, when the operation does not meet a more specific root-replacement description.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 33859 in Kansas.
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 33859 covers
A cardiothoracic surgeon uses this code for open graft replacement of the ascending aorta when the underlying condition is not an aortic dissection. A typical case is repair of an ascending aortic aneurysm. These operations are generally performed in an operating room, often with cardiopulmonary bypass. The operative report should establish the treated aortic segment, the non-dissection diagnosis, and the graft replacement performed.
Report this code for the non-dissection ascending-aortic procedure, distinguishing it from dissection repair and from procedures with a more specific aortic-root description. The major-surgery global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Modifier 50 is not appropriate for this aortic service. 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.
33859 in Kansas
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas | Unavailable | $2,040.76 |
How the 33859 rate is calculated
Each of 33859’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 · 33859
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 44.00Practice expense 12.86Malpractice 10.86
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 33859
33859 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 33859
Aortic graft
| 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 · 33859
Aortic graft
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
33859 without 51 · national facility
$2,261.91
Aortic graft
33859-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$1,130.96
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%).
33859 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
33859 vs 33858 vs 33863 vs 33864 vs 33866: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 33858Aortic graft
- Choose 33858 for ascending-aortic graft replacement performed for aortic dissection; choose 33859 for a non-dissection condition such as an ascending aneurysm.
- 33863Aortic graft
- Code 33863 describes ascending-aortic grafting that includes aortic-root replacement and coronary reimplantation, rather than the non-dissection ascending-aortic service described by 33859.
- 33864Aortic graft
- Code 33864 is for ascending-aortic grafting with aortic-valve suspension. Review the operative details to distinguish that work from the service reported with 33859.
- 33866Aortic graft
- Code 33866 identifies an operation that includes the aortic hemiarch; 33859 is selected when the documented work does not meet that hemiarch description.
33859 billing questions
How does this differ from 33858?
Code 33859 is for ascending-aortic graft replacement for disease other than dissection. Code 33858 is the corresponding choice when the indication is aortic dissection.
When should a root-replacement code be considered instead?
Use a root-specific code when the operation includes the aortic-root work described by that code, rather than graft replacement limited to the ascending aorta. The operative report should identify the extent of resection and reconstruction.
Are related postoperative visits included?
The global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of 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.
Should modifier 50 be appended for bilateral work?
No. Modifier 50 is not appropriate for this ascending-aortic service.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, with other procedures in the same session paid at 50%.
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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