Billing code 34051: Arterial thrombectomyMedicare rate & RVUs in Washington
Reports surgical removal of a clot from an artery; select this code when the operative service and treated artery meet its full billing code descriptor.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 34051 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 34051 covers
This service removes a clot obstructing arterial blood flow. Vascular surgeons typically perform it in an operating room when an arterial obstruction requires surgical treatment, such as an acute ischemic event. The operative report should identify the artery treated, the clot-removal work performed, and the extent of the service. Use the full billing code descriptor to confirm that the treated artery and procedure match this code.
Report the code for the documented procedure, not simply for a diagnosis of arterial thrombosis or embolism. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. For bilateral reporting, 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 34051 pays more and less in Washington
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rest Of Washington | Unavailable | $955.69 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | Unavailable | $1,032.22 |
How the 34051 rate is calculated
Each of 34051’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 · 34051
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work16.57
16.57 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense8.37
8.37 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice3.96
3.96 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
28.9000
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$965.29
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 34051
34051 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 34051
Arterial thrombectomy
| 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 · 34051
Arterial thrombectomy
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
34051 without 50 · national facility
$965.29
Arterial thrombectomy
34051-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,447.94
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).
34051 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 34001Arterial thrombectomy
- Both codes describe arterial clot removal in CMS short descriptors. Match the code to the artery and procedure specified by the complete billing code descriptors and operative record.
- 34101Arterial thrombectomy
- 34101 applies to specified upper-extremity arteries. Use this code only when its full billing code descriptor matches the treated artery and documented procedure.
- 34201Arterial embolectomy
- 34201 applies to specified lower-extremity or aortoiliac arteries. Choose between the codes by matching the operative site and work to the full descriptors.
34051 billing questions
How do I choose this code over 34001?
Check the complete billing code descriptors and match the code to the artery and procedure documented in the operative report. The CMS short descriptors alone do not distinguish the site.
What documentation supports reporting this service?
The operative report should identify the artery, the clot-removal procedure performed, and its extent. Include details that support the selected billing code descriptor and any separately reported procedures.
Does the code include routine postoperative care?
Yes. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How is this code paid 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.
Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral treatment?
The CMS bilateral rule specifies modifier 50 for bilateral reporting, with payment 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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