Billing code 33517: Combined CABGMedicare rate & RVUs in Oklahoma
Reports one venous graft used during coronary bypass surgery that also includes arterial grafting, alongside the primary code for the arterial graft count.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 33517 in Oklahoma.
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 33517 covers
Code 33517 identifies one venous conduit used during coronary artery bypass surgery that also uses an arterial conduit. A cardiothoracic surgeon creates the bypass grafts in the operating room, commonly using a leg vein for the venous graft and an arterial conduit, such as an internal mammary artery, for another bypass. The arterial graft count is represented by the separate primary CABG code; 33517 captures the single venous graft in the combined operation.
Report 33517 only as an add-on with the applicable arterial CABG code from 33533–33536; it is not a stand-alone code for a venous-only operation. The operative report should establish that a venous graft was used and support the arterial graft count selected for the primary code. CMS places payment for 33517 within the primary procedure's global period. Code 33508 may describe endoscopic vein harvest when performed; harvesting is distinct from the graft count represented here.
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.
33517 in Oklahoma
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | Unavailable | $161.33 |
How the 33517 rate is calculated
Each of 33517’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 · 33517
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work3.52
3.52 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense0.71
0.71 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.87
0.87 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
5.1000
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$170.34
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 33517
The CMS indicators that decide how 33517 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 33517
Combined CABG
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | ZZZ | Add-on code: falls within the primary procedure’s global period. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 80 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
33517 without 80 · national facility
$170.34
Combined CABG
33517-80 · Assistant: 16%
$27.25
A physician assistant at surgery is paid 16% of the surgeon’s fee schedule amount.
33517 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 33510Coronary bypass
- 33510 describes a venous-only CABG with one venous graft. Use 33517 with an arterial CABG primary code when the operation also includes arterial grafting.
- 33518CABG grafts
- Both are add-on levels for combined arterial-and-venous CABG; 33517 represents one venous graft, while 33518 represents two.
- 33533Arterial CABG
- 33533 represents a single arterial graft and serves as a primary code. Add 33517 when the combined operation also uses one venous graft.
- 33508Vein harvest
- 33508 describes endoscopic vein harvesting, not the venous graft used to perform the bypass. It may be reported with the CABG when that harvest service is performed.
33517 billing questions
Which primary code is reported with 33517?
Report it with the applicable arterial CABG code from 33533–33536. The primary code represents the arterial graft count, while 33517 represents one venous graft.
Can 33517 be reported for a venous-only bypass?
No. It is for a combined operation that includes venous and arterial grafting. A venous-only CABG is reported from the venous-only code series, such as 33510 for one venous graft.
When is 33518 used instead?
Use 33518 when the combined arterial-and-venous CABG includes two venous grafts. Code 33517 represents one venous graft.
Does 33517 include endoscopic vein harvesting?
No. The code represents the venous graft used in the bypass; 33508 describes endoscopic vein harvest when that service is performed.
What documentation supports 33517?
The operative report should establish use of one venous graft and document the arterial grafting that supports the separately reported primary CABG code.
How does CMS treat payment for 33517?
It is an add-on code reported only with a primary procedure, and CMS places its payment within that procedure's global period.
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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