Billing code 33320: Major vessel repairMedicare rate & RVUs in Ohio
Report this code when a surgeon repairs a major cardiovascular vessel during an operation performed with cardiopulmonary bypass.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 33320 in Ohio.
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 33320 covers
This code describes operative repair of a major blood vessel, such as the aorta or pulmonary artery, when cardiopulmonary bypass is used. Cardiothoracic surgeons typically perform the service in a hospital operating room. The operative report should identify the vessel and the repair performed; the use of bypass distinguishes this service from a comparable repair performed without it.
Choose the code based on the actual vessel procedure and whether cardiopulmonary bypass was used. Documentation should support the vessel involved, the repair technique, and bypass use. This major surgery has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. 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 multiple-procedure reduction. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is not permitted. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this service.
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.
33320 in Ohio
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | Unavailable | $995.85 |
How the 33320 rate is calculated
Each of 33320’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 · 33320
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 18.08Practice expense 7.83Malpractice 4.55
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 33320
33320 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 33320
Major 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) | 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 · 33320
Major 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 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
33320 without 51 · national facility
$1,017.39
Major vessel repair
33320-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$508.70
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%).
33320 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
33320 vs 33321 vs 33330 vs 33335: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 33321Vessel repair
- Both codes concern major-vessel repair; select 33320 when cardiopulmonary bypass is used and 33321 when it is not.
- 33330Vessel graft
- 33320 describes vessel repair with bypass. Consider 33330 when the operative service is insertion of a major-vessel graft.
- 33335Aortic graft
- 33335 is in the major-vessel graft insertion family. Use the code matching the documented graft service rather than coding graft insertion as vessel repair.
33320 billing questions
How does this code differ from 33321?
This code is for major-vessel repair with cardiopulmonary bypass. Code 33321 describes the corresponding repair without bypass.
Should this code be used when a graft is inserted?
Compare the operative service with the major-vessel graft codes, including 33330 and 33335. Those codes describe graft insertion; this code describes vessel repair with bypass.
Can an assistant surgeon be reported?
CMS indicates that assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation.
Can modifier 50 be used for repair of two vessels?
No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code under the CMS bilateral rule. Report the service supported by the operative documentation.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
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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