Billing code 35281: Vessel repairMedicare rate & RVUs in Kansas
Open reconstruction of an intra-abdominal blood vessel using a graft other than a vein, reported when the operative repair uses graft material.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 35281 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 35281 covers
A surgeon reconstructs an intra-abdominal blood vessel using graft material other than a vein. The repair may involve a major vessel such as the aorta or an abdominal branch vessel. Vascular surgeons commonly perform this work in an operating room during planned reconstruction or urgent treatment of vessel injury. The operative report should identify the vessel and its intra-abdominal location, describe the graft used, and explain the reconstruction performed.
Report this code when the documented repair uses a nonvenous graft; a direct repair or a repair using a vein graft is represented by a different code. CMS assigns 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 others are reduced to 50%. A bilateral procedure reported with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery services 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.
35281 in Kansas
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas | Unavailable | $1,337.23 |
How the 35281 rate is calculated
Each of 35281’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 · 35281
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work29.31
29.31 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense7.70
7.70 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice7.47
7.47 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
44.4800
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,485.67
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 35281
35281 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 35281
Vessel repair
| 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 · 35281
Vessel repair
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
35281 without 50 · national facility
$1,485.67
Vessel repair
35281-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$2,228.51
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).
35281 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 35221Vessel repair
- 35221 describes direct repair of an intra-abdominal vessel without a graft. Choose 35281 when the operative repair uses graft material other than a vein.
- 35251Vessel repair
- Both codes concern intra-abdominal vessel repair with a graft; 35251 specifies a vein graft, while 35281 is for graft material other than a vein.
- 35276Vessel repair
- Both involve nonvenous graft repair, but 35276 is for an intrathoracic vessel without bypass. 35281 is for an intra-abdominal vessel.
35281 billing questions
How is 35281 different from 35251?
Both describe intra-abdominal vessel reconstruction using a graft, but 35281 is for graft material other than a vein. Use 35251 when the repair uses a vein graft.
When would 35221 be more appropriate?
Use 35221 for direct intra-abdominal vessel repair without a graft. The operative report must support use of graft material for 35281.
What operative details support 35281?
Document the vessel and its intra-abdominal location, the graft material, and the reconstructive work performed. These details distinguish this service from direct repair and vein-graft repair.
How does the 90-day global period affect postoperative billing?
The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global period.
How are multiple procedures and bilateral reporting handled?
For multiple procedures in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. A bilateral procedure reported with modifier 50 is paid at 150%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery services 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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