Billing code 37277: Peripheral revascularizationMedicare rate & RVUs in Washington
Reports complex endovascular treatment of an initial femoral or popliteal artery vessel using both atherectomy and stent placement.
Medicare pays $16,184.87–$18,786.02 for 37277 in the office in Washington, from Rest Of Washington to Seattle (King Cnty). Which amount applies depends on the service address.
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 37277 covers
This code represents catheter-based revascularization of a femoral or popliteal artery in which the operator performs atherectomy and places a stent in the treated vessel. Balloon angioplasty in that same vessel, when performed, is part of the revascularization service. Vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists, and interventional cardiologists commonly perform these procedures for peripheral arterial disease, including symptomatic limb ischemia, in a hospital or outpatient procedural setting.
Use the complex initial-vessel code when the documentation supports the complex category in the femoropopliteal revascularization family and identifies the treated vessel and both atherectomy and stent placement. The family separates initial-vessel services from services for additional vessels and distinguishes complex from simple procedures. The procedure has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; 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 37277 pays more and less in Washington
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rest Of Washington | $16,184.87 | $664.54 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $18,786.02 | $701.08 |
How the 37277 rate is calculated
Each of 37277’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 · 37277
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work15.00
15.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense443.28
443.28 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice3.41
3.41 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
461.6900
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$15,420.86
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 37277
The CMS indicators that decide how 37277 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 37277
Peripheral revascularization
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is 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) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
37277 without 50 · national office
$15,420.86
Peripheral revascularization
37277-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$23,131.29
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).
37277 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 37275Leg artery revascularization
- Choose 37275 for the simple-category initial-vessel service that combines stent placement and atherectomy; use 37277 when the documented service meets the complex category.
- 37278Stent and atherectomy
- 37278 is for an additional vessel in the complex combination service. 37277 identifies the initial vessel.
- 37273Peripheral atherectomy
- 37273 represents complex initial-vessel atherectomy without the stent-and-atherectomy combination reported by 37277.
- 37269Arterial stenting
- 37269 represents complex initial-vessel stent placement without the stent-and-atherectomy combination reported by 37277.
37277 billing questions
How does 37277 differ from 37275?
Both cover femoropopliteal revascularization using stent placement and atherectomy in an initial vessel. 37277 is for the complex category; 37275 is the simple-category counterpart.
When is 37278 used instead?
37278 is the complex combination code for an additional femoropopliteal vessel. Use 37277 for the initial vessel.
Can angioplasty in the treated vessel be reported separately?
Angioplasty performed in the same vessel is included in the revascularization service. The code selection should reflect the documented procedures in that vessel.
What should the procedure note support?
Document the femoral or popliteal target vessel, the procedures performed, and the details supporting the complex category. The note should establish that both atherectomy and stent placement occurred.
How is bilateral treatment reported under the CMS payment rule?
For bilateral procedures, modifier 50 is paid at 150% under the stated CMS rule. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care.
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 37277 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 →