Billing code 35601: Carotid bypassMedicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Open bypass from the common carotid artery to the same-side internal carotid artery restores flow around a segment requiring vascular reconstruction.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 35601 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 35601 covers
This open arterial reconstruction creates a graft route from the common carotid artery to the internal carotid artery on the same side. It restores blood flow past a segment that cannot carry blood adequately or must be bypassed during vascular reconstruction. Vascular surgeons typically perform the operation in an operating room. The operative report should identify the inflow artery, outflow artery, graft, and completed route.
Report 35601 when the documented bypass runs from the common carotid to the ipsilateral internal carotid; select the code by the anatomic endpoints, not the diagnosis alone. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. In a same-session multiple-procedure claim, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures at 50%. Bilateral performance with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery 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.
Where 35601 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 | $1,254.44 |
| Beaumont | Unavailable | $1,238.70 |
| Brazoria | Unavailable | $1,224.95 |
| Dallas | Unavailable | $1,244.33 |
| Fort Worth | Unavailable | $1,245.67 |
| Galveston | Unavailable | $1,236.16 |
| Houston | Unavailable | $1,360.44 |
| Rest Of Texas | Unavailable | $1,239.06 |
How the 35601 rate is calculated
Each of 35601’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 · 35601
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 26.41Practice expense 4.80Malpractice 6.79
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 35601
35601 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 35601
Carotid bypass
| 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) | 1 | Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount. |
| 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 · 35601
Carotid bypass
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 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
35601 without 50 · national facility
$1,269.23
Carotid bypass
35601-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,903.85
Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).
35601 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
35601 vs 35602 vs 35606 vs 35642: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 35602Carotid bypass
- Use 35601 for a common-carotid-to-same-side-internal-carotid route. Code 35602 describes a bypass connecting carotid arteries across sides.
- 35606Arterial bypass
- 35606 ends at the subclavian artery. Choose 35601 when the documented outflow is the ipsilateral internal carotid artery.
- 35642Arterial bypass
- 35642 uses the vertebral artery as the distal target; 35601 uses the ipsilateral internal carotid artery.
35601 billing questions
How does 35601 differ from 35602?
35601 describes a bypass from the common carotid to the ipsilateral internal carotid. Code 35602 describes a carotid-to-contralateral-carotid bypass.
Which anatomic details should the operative note support?
Document the common carotid inflow, the same-side internal carotid outflow, and the graft route. The operative description should make the bypass endpoints clear.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How is 35601 paid when other procedures occur in the same session?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are paid at 50%. For bilateral performance, modifier 50 is paid at 150%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeons are paid only with supporting documentation; team surgery 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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