Billing code 33775: Atrial switch repairMedicare rate & RVUs in Washington
Reports surgical repair of transposition of the great arteries using an atrial baffle, when a previously placed pulmonary artery band is also removed.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 33775 in Washington.
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 33775 covers
A congenital heart surgeon reports this code for an atrial-switch repair of transposition of the great arteries that includes taking off a pulmonary artery band placed during earlier treatment. The operation redirects blood flow at the atrial level and removes the band during the same surgical session. It is performed in an operating room, generally as major open-heart surgery for congenital heart disease.
Choose this code when the operative report supports both the atrial baffle repair and pulmonary artery band removal; the band removal is part of this service, not a separate reason to select the code. Document the underlying anatomy, the baffle work, and removal of the prior band. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When other 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-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code.
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 33775 pays more and less in Washington
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rest Of Washington | Unavailable | $1,717.37 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | Unavailable | $1,842.16 |
How the 33775 rate is calculated
Each of 33775’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 · 33775
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work32.17
32.17 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense12.02
12.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice8.11
8.11 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
52.3000
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,746.87
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 33775
33775 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 33775
Atrial switch 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) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.09/0.84/0.07 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 33775
Atrial switch 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
33775 without 51 · national facility
$1,746.87
Atrial switch repair
33775-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$873.44
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%).
33775 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 33774Atrial baffle repair
- Both describe an atrial-baffle repair for transposition. Choose 33775 when removal of a pulmonary artery band is included in the operation.
- 33776Atrial switch repair
- This code identifies an atrial-baffle repair that includes ventricular septal defect closure; 33775 is distinguished by pulmonary artery band removal.
- 33777TGA repair
- This code includes repair of subpulmonic obstruction with the atrial-baffle repair. Code 33775 identifies the repair with pulmonary band removal.
- 33779Arterial switch repair
- This is a transposition repair involving reconstruction and pulmonary band removal, rather than the atrial-baffle approach represented by 33775.
33775 billing questions
How does this differ from 33774?
Use 33775 when the atrial-baffle repair also includes removal of a pulmonary artery band. Code 33774 describes the atrial-baffle repair without that band-removal distinction.
Is pulmonary artery band removal separately reported?
The band removal is included in this repair when performed as part of the same operation. Document it in the operative report as part of the service.
What documentation supports choosing this code?
The operative report should identify the transposition repair, atrial baffle work, and removal of a previously placed pulmonary artery band.
Can modifier 50 be appended?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code because of its descriptor and anatomy.
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. The code has a 90-day global period.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted for this code.
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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