Billing code 33971: Aortic assist removalMedicare rate & RVUs in Kentucky
Reports open removal of an intra-aortic balloon assist device, generally after temporary circulatory support for cardiogenic shock or around cardiac surgery.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 33971 in Kentucky.
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 33971 covers
This service covers open removal of an intra-aortic balloon assist device, with the surgical exposure needed to remove the device and address the access artery. It is typically performed by a cardiothoracic or vascular surgeon in a hospital when a patient no longer needs temporary aortic support, such as after stabilization from cardiogenic shock or recovery from a cardiac procedure. The open approach distinguishes this service from percutaneous device removal.
Report the code when the operative record supports open removal and identifies the device and access approach. The code has a 90-day 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 other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment is barred by statutory restriction; co-surgeons and team surgery are 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.
33971 in Kentucky
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | Unavailable | $642.58 |
How the 33971 rate is calculated
Each of 33971’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 · 33971
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work11.69
11.69 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense5.64
5.64 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice2.77
2.77 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
20.1000
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$671.36
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 33971
33971 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 33971
Aortic assist removal
| 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) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| 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 · 33971
Aortic assist removal
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
33971 without 51 · national facility
$671.36
Aortic assist removal
33971-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$335.68
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%).
33971 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 33968Balloon removal
- Choose 33971 for open removal and 33968 for percutaneous removal. The operative approach is the key distinction.
- 33970Aortic assist device
- Code 33970 describes open insertion of the aortic assist device; 33971 describes open removal.
- 33967Balloon pump insertion
- Code 33967 reports percutaneous insertion of an intra-aortic balloon assist device, not its open removal.
33971 billing questions
How does this differ from code 33968?
Code 33971 is for open removal of the aortic assist device. Code 33968 is the percutaneous removal option.
Can the removal be reported with the original insertion?
Report this code for the open removal service, not for the earlier insertion. Code 33970 describes open insertion.
What documentation supports the open approach?
The operative report should identify the intra-aortic balloon assist device, document its removal, and describe the open exposure and access-site work.
Should modifier 50 be appended?
No. Bilateral adjustment is inappropriate for this service.
Is an assistant surgeon payable?
No. Assistant-at-surgery payment is barred by statutory restriction for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are also 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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