Billing code 33534: Arterial CABGMedicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Reports coronary artery bypass surgery using two arterial grafts to bypass obstructive coronary disease, with the documented graft count determining the code level.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 33534 in Texas.
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 33534 covers
Code 33534 represents coronary artery bypass surgery using two arterial grafts to route blood around obstructive coronary disease. A cardiothoracic surgeon performs the grafting during open cardiac surgery, usually in a hospital operating room. The operative report should identify the arterial grafts and completed bypasses so the documented graft count supports this level.
Report 33534 for the arterial portion when two arterial grafts are performed. If venous grafts are also used, report the applicable 33517–33523 add-on code for their number; 33518 corresponds to two venous grafts. CMS assigns major surgery 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 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons and team surgery are 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 33534 pays more and less in Texas
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | Unavailable | $2,052.79 |
| Beaumont | Unavailable | $1,998.64 |
| Brazoria | Unavailable | $1,996.97 |
| Dallas | Unavailable | $2,025.51 |
| Fort Worth | Unavailable | $2,025.27 |
| Galveston | Unavailable | $2,013.26 |
| Houston | Unavailable | $2,189.16 |
| Rest Of Texas | Unavailable | $2,007.51 |
How the 33534 rate is calculated
Each of 33534’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 · 33534
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 38.88Practice expense 13.22Malpractice 9.61
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 33534
33534 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 33534
Arterial CABG
| 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) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.09/0.82/0.09 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 33534
Arterial CABG
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
33534 without 51 · national facility
$2,061.17
Arterial CABG
33534-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$1,030.59
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%).
33534 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
33534 vs 33533 vs 33535 vs 33518 vs 33511: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 33533Arterial CABG
- Use 33533 when one arterial graft is documented; 33534 represents two.
- 33535Arterial CABG
- Use 33535 for three arterial grafts rather than the two represented by 33534.
- 33518CABG grafts
- 33518 is an add-on for two venous grafts in a combined arterial-and-venous CABG; it does not replace the arterial CABG code.
- 33511Coronary bypass
- 33511 describes CABG with two venous grafts. It is used for venous-only grafting, unlike 33534's two arterial grafts.
33534 billing questions
How does 33534 differ from 33533 or 33535?
Choose among these arterial CABG levels by the number of arterial grafts documented: 33533 is for one, 33534 for two, and 33535 for three.
Can 33534 be reported with a venous CABG code?
Yes. When the operation includes venous grafts as well as the two arterial grafts, report the applicable 33517–33523 add-on code for the number of venous grafts; 33518 corresponds to two.
Is endoscopic vein harvesting included in 33534?
33534 identifies the arterial bypass work. Endoscopic vein harvesting is described separately by 33508 when performed and reportable.
Can modifier 50 be used, and what about surgical assistants?
Modifier 50 is inappropriate for 33534. CMS indicates that an assistant at surgery may be paid, while co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during the 90 days after surgery.
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
Fee sheets
Put 33534 and the rest of your codes on one sheet
Build a fee sheet from your own code list at your locality, put your payer contracts beside Medicare, and see what changed each quarter.
Build my fee sheetOr price your code list free →