Billing code 33256: Atrial ablationMedicare rate & RVUs in Minnesota
Reports extensive surgical ablation and atrial reconstruction, such as a maze procedure, when performed with cardiopulmonary bypass.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 33256 in Minnesota.
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 33256 covers
This code describes extensive surgical ablation and reconstruction of atrial tissue, commonly performed to treat atrial fibrillation with a maze-type lesion pattern. A cardiothoracic surgeon performs the open operation in a hospital setting using cardiopulmonary bypass. The operative report should establish the extent of the atrial work and document bypass use; a limited lesion set or an operation performed without bypass points to a different code in the family.
Report the service for the atrial ablation itself, with documentation of the lesion pattern, operative approach, and bypass. It may be performed during a broader cardiac operation, but the standard multiple-procedure reduction applies when other procedures are performed in the same session: the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. The 90-day global includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during the period. Report the atrial work as one operation rather than using modifier 50. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team-surgery payment 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.
33256 in Minnesota
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | Unavailable | $1,647.52 |
How the 33256 rate is calculated
Each of 33256’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 · 33256
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work34.03
34.03 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense12.52
12.52 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice8.15
8.15 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
54.7000
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,827.03
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 33256
33256 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 33256
Atrial ablation
| 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 · 33256
Atrial ablation
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
33256 without 51 · national facility
$1,827.03
Atrial ablation
33256-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$913.52
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%).
33256 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 33255Atrial ablation
- Both cover extensive atrial ablation, but 33255 is for work without cardiopulmonary bypass; 33256 includes bypass.
- 33254Atrial ablation
- 33254 is for limited atrial ablation without bypass. 33256 requires extensive work performed with bypass.
- 33266Atrial ablation
- 33266 describes extensive endoscopic atrial ablation. 33256 describes extensive open surgical work with cardiopulmonary bypass.
33256 billing questions
How is 33256 distinguished from 33255?
Both describe extensive atrial ablation, but 33256 is performed with cardiopulmonary bypass. Code 33255 is for extensive work without bypass.
When should a limited ablation code be considered?
Choose a limited code when the operative report supports a limited lesion set rather than extensive atrial ablation and reconstruction. Bypass use also affects which code applies.
Can 33256 be reported with another cardiac procedure?
It may be performed during the same session as another cardiac operation. The standard multiple-procedure reduction applies: the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%.
What documentation supports reporting 33256?
The operative report should describe the extent and pattern of atrial ablation or reconstruction and document cardiopulmonary bypass use.
What does the 90-day global include?
The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global period.
Can assistant or co-surgeon services be paid?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team-surgery payment 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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