CPT code 33267 documents an open surgical exclusion (for example, excision) of the left atrial appendage, a pouch in the left atrium associated with thromboembolic risk. The code captures a definitive, invasive cardiac surgical intervention intended to remove or exclude the appendage, most commonly performed in the operating room during cardiac surgery. Nationally, this code matters for surgical billing, hospital resource use, and management of stroke risk in patients with cardiac conditions that predispose to clot formation.

Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The publication provides readers with reimbursement and utilization benchmarks where available, payer coverage considerations, clinical context for when open exclusion is used versus less invasive options, and relevant coding guidance. Content highlights the clinical setting, typical site-of-service implications for hospital billing, and common modifiers used with the procedure (modifier details provided elsewhere).

Readers will learn: the clinical intent and procedural setting for CPT code 33267, how major national payers approach coverage and payment (Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, Medicare), and the types of benchmarks and policy updates that influence coding and billing for open left atrial appendage exclusion. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.