Billing code 33910: Pulmonary embolectomyMedicare rate & RVUs in Massachusetts
Open removal of embolic material from the pulmonary artery using cardiopulmonary bypass, typically for a serious pulmonary embolism requiring surgical treatment.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 33910 in Massachusetts.
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 33910 covers
This service involves surgically removing obstructing embolic material from the pulmonary artery while the patient is supported by cardiopulmonary bypass. A cardiothoracic surgeon typically performs it in an operating room for a serious pulmonary embolism when operative embolectomy is selected. The work centers on clearing the pulmonary artery; it is distinct from treating chronic pulmonary artery obstruction through a percutaneous revascularization approach.
Report this code when the operative record supports pulmonary artery embolectomy performed with cardiopulmonary bypass. Documentation should identify the embolic disease, the operative removal, and use of bypass. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. When multiple procedures occur 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 for this 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.
Where 33910 pays more and less in Massachusetts
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Boston | Unavailable | $2,576.01 |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | Unavailable | $2,430.11 |
How the 33910 rate is calculated
Each of 33910’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 · 33910
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work47.00
47.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense15.20
15.20 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice11.29
11.29 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
73.4900
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$2,454.63
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 33910
33910 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 33910
Pulmonary embolectomy
| 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 · 33910
Pulmonary embolectomy
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
33910 without 51 · national facility
$2,454.63
Pulmonary embolectomy
33910-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$1,227.32
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%).
33910 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 33915Pulmonary embolectomy
- Choose 33910 when the pulmonary artery embolectomy is performed with cardiopulmonary bypass. Code 33915 is for the procedure without bypass.
- 33900Pulmonary artery treatment
- 33900 describes percutaneous pulmonary artery revascularization, not open removal of embolic material with cardiopulmonary bypass.
- 33917Pulmonary artery repair
- 33917 concerns pulmonary artery repair. Use 33910 for embolic material removal with bypass, rather than repair of the artery.
33910 billing questions
How is 33910 distinguished from 33915?
33910 is for pulmonary artery embolectomy performed with cardiopulmonary bypass. 33915 describes the corresponding embolectomy without bypass.
What documentation supports reporting 33910?
The operative report should establish removal of embolic material from the pulmonary artery and use of cardiopulmonary bypass. It should also describe the operative service performed.
Does the 90-day global period include postoperative care?
Yes. 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 emboli in both pulmonary arteries?
No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this service; report the procedure without treating it as a bilateral service.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction.
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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