Billing code 34151: Arterial thrombectomyMedicare rate & RVUs in Washington
Iliac artery thrombectomy removes an obstructing clot through an abdominal incision, typically during urgent treatment of acute lower-extremity ischemia.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 34151 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 34151 covers
A vascular surgeon removes clot from an iliac artery through an abdominal incision, either directly or using a catheter passed through the operative exposure. The procedure is used when an iliac arterial obstruction threatens blood flow to the leg, such as with acute limb ischemia from an embolus or thrombosis. It is performed in an operating room, commonly in a hospital setting. The abdominal approach and iliac artery site distinguish this service from thrombectomy performed through a neck, arm, or leg incision.
Report the code when the operative record supports removal of clot from an iliac artery through the abdominal approach; document the treated vessel, approach, and thrombectomy performed. CMS assigns a 90-day major-surgery 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 reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; 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 34151 pays more and less in Washington
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rest Of Washington | Unavailable | $1,231.64 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | Unavailable | $1,307.26 |
How the 34151 rate is calculated
Each of 34151’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 · 34151
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 25.86Practice expense 5.40Malpractice 6.56
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 34151
34151 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 34151
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 · 34151
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
34151 without 50 · national facility
$1,263.22
Arterial thrombectomy
34151-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,894.83
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).
34151 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
34151 vs 34101 vs 34111 vs 34201: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 34101Arterial thrombectomy
- Use 34101 for the specified neck-incision arterial thrombectomy territory, not for iliac artery clot removal through an abdominal incision.
- 34111Arterial thrombectomy
- Use 34111 for the specified upper-extremity arteries approached through an arm incision; this code is for the iliac artery approached abdominally.
- 34201Arterial embolectomy
- Use 34201 when the treated vessel is femoral or popliteal and the approach is through a leg incision, rather than an iliac artery approached abdominally.
34151 billing questions
How is this code distinguished from thrombectomy codes for other arteries?
This code describes iliac artery clot removal through an abdominal incision. Choose a different code when the treated artery and operative incision are in another region, such as the neck, arm, or leg.
What documentation supports reporting this code?
The operative report should identify the iliac artery, the abdominal approach, and the clot-removal work performed, including whether removal was direct or catheter-assisted.
How does the 90-day global period affect postoperative billing?
The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global period.
How is bilateral performance reported under the CMS facts?
When the procedure is performed bilaterally, modifier 50 applies, and CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available. Co-surgeon payment requires 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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