Headline: CPT code 33780 defines the arterial switch (Jatene) procedure for correcting transposition of the great arteries.

CPT code 33780 represents an open congenital cardiac surgery that corrects transposition of the great arteries by switching the aorta and pulmonary artery and closing a ventricular septal defect when present. This code captures a high-acuity, resource-intensive pediatric cardiac procedure that has significant implications for surgical planning, inpatient resource allocation, and payer coverage policies across the United States.

Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise operational and clinical context for billing and reimbursement considerations, common modifiers used with the code, typical site-of-service expectations, and the clinical significance of the arterial switch in neonatal and infant congenital heart disease management.

The publication provides benchmarks and policy-relevant context at a national level: frequency and utilization drivers for high-complexity congenital cardiac surgery, typical payer coverage patterns, and coding nuances relevant to hospital revenue cycle teams and pediatric cardiothoracic surgical programs. Data not provided in the input are noted where applicable; clinical coding teams should reference local payer policy manuals for coverage specifics.