35702 Artery exploration Medicare reimbursement rates in Massachusetts

A vascular or trauma surgeon uses an open operative approach to expose and assess an artery in the arm when the clinical concern requires direct evaluation, such as suspected arterial injury or unexplained impaired blood flow. The service is performed in an operative setting. This code describes exploration that ends without surgical repair of the artery; it is not the code for a repair performed after the vessel is exposed.

Select the code based on the artery’s upper-extremity location and the service actually completed. The operative report should identify the artery, the reason for exploration, the findings, and whether repair followed. 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 the others at 50%. For bilateral reporting with modifier 50, payment is at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery services may be paid; co-surgeons are paid only with supporting documentation, and team surgery is not permitted.