CPT code 33940 represents a cardiectomy performed for heart transplantation, involving surgical removal of the donor heart and placement in cold preservation solution prior to transplant. The code describes a critical step in organ procurement and is central to billing for donor organ retrieval in heart transplant programs. Nationally, accurate coding for donor cardiectomy affects hospital surgical billing workflows, transplant program accounting, and reporting tied to organ procurement organizations.

Key payers addressed in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context for the procedure, common billing modifiers, typical site-of-service considerations, and how the code interacts with transplant services. The publication also summarizes benchmarking elements and policy considerations relevant to payers nationally, and highlights which data elements are available or not in the provided input.

This summary equips billing managers, transplant program administrators, and policy analysts with the essential facts about CPT code 33940, its clinical role in heart transplant procurement, and the payer landscape relevant to coverage and billing practices.