Summary & Overview
CPT 33600: Cardiac Valve Repair by Patch or Suture
CPT code 33600 represents surgical repair of an incompetent heart valve by patching or suturing to restore appropriate intracardiac blood flow. This valve repair procedure is a critical option in cardiac surgery that can preserve native valve structures, reduce prosthetic valve use, and affect clinical outcomes and costs at a national level. The code matters nationally because it maps to high-acuity inpatient surgical care with implications for utilization, bundled payments, and clinical quality reporting.
Key payers included in this review are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical context for valve repair, typical sites of service, and the role of CPT code 33600 in hospital billing. The publication summarizes available benchmarks where present, highlights common modifier usage patterns, and outlines policy and coverage considerations that frequently affect payment and documentation. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
The report is intended for hospital coding teams, surgical departments, and payer policy analysts seeking a concise reference for coding, billing, and administrative planning related to cardiac valve repair captured by CPT code 33600.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 33600 describes a surgical procedure in which the provider patches or sutures an incompetent cardiac valve to restore appropriate blood flow between the chambers of the heart. This procedure is a form of valve repair aimed at correcting valve insufficiency without full valve replacement.
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Service type: Cardiac valve repair surgery
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Typical site of service: Inpatient operating room or cardiac surgery suite
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a 62-year-old with symptomatic mitral regurgitation due to a torn or prolapsed mitral valve leaflet presenting with progressive dyspnea on exertion, orthopnea, and reduced exercise tolerance. Echocardiography (transthoracic and transesophageal) documents significant valvular incompetence with left atrial enlargement and evidence of volume overload. The cardiac surgery team schedules operative repair where the surgeon performs valve leaflet repair with sutures or placement of a ring/patch to restore valve competence and appropriate chamber flow. The clinical workflow includes preoperative evaluation (history, echocardiography, coronary angiography as indicated), intraoperative transesophageal echocardiographic guidance, cardiopulmonary bypass, valve repair using sutures or patching techniques, intraoperative assessment of repair adequacy, and postoperative monitoring in the intensive care unit with serial imaging and routine discharge planning.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | Default/No modifier used in some systems | Use when no specific modifier applies. |
62 | Two surgeons | Use when two surgeons of different specialties work together as primary surgeons. |