Find policies, billing codes, payers, states, and providers
CPT 35301: Thromboendarterectomy of Carotid, Vertebral, or Subclavian Artery
CPT code 35301 identifies an open surgical thromboendarterectomy performed through a neck incision to remove thrombus and atherosclerotic plaques from the carotid, vertebral, or subclavian arteries. This procedure is a critical vascular surgery aimed at restoring arterial blood flow to the head and neck and reducing the risk of stroke or limb ischemia when endovascular options are unsuitable or unsuccessful. Nationally, accurate coding for this service matters for clinical reporting, surgical case mix classification, and appropriate reimbursement for high-acuity vascular interventions.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, United Healthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of the clinical context for 35301, common related and alternative procedures, and the typical site of service. The publication summarizes payer coverage considerations and common billing modifiers used with high-complexity vascular surgery, and it situates 35301 among related open and endovascular vascular codes to aid coding accuracy and billing consistency.
This account is intended for a national audience of coding professionals, vascular surgeons, and revenue cycle staff seeking concise guidance on the clinical meaning and billing context of CPT code 35301, including where it fits relative to alternative revascularization and catheter-based procedures.
Customize your policy alerts
Sign up for cpt 35301 policy alerts
Get alerted when payer policies referencing 35301 are released or updated.
Monitor payer policy activity
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 35301 describes a surgical procedure in which the provider removes thrombus and plaques from a carotid, vertebral, or subclavian artery through a neck incision. This is a surgical vascular procedure performed to restore blood flow and reduce the risk of cerebrovascular events caused by arterial occlusion or stenosis.
Service Type: Open surgical thromboendarterectomy/arterial plaque removal
Typical Site of Service: Operating room or surgical suite, via a neck incision (carotid, vertebral, or subclavian artery)
National Reimbursement Benchmarks
Across national payers, Medicare’s mean rate of $1,026 sits below BUCA’s average commercial mean of $1,430.30, indicating that BUCA reimburses substantially higher on average than Medicare for CPT 35301. The gap of $404.30 highlights meaningful differences between a federal payer benchmark and an aggregated commercial payer mean.
Rate dispersion (P75 minus P25) highlights which payers show tighter vs wider variability: Aetna’s interquartile range is $1,108.50, Blue Cross Blue Shield’s is $713.00, Cigna’s is $1,179.80, UnitedHealth Group’s is $1,278.00, and BUCA’s is $989.20. UnitedHealth Group exhibits the widest IQR at $1,278.00, while Blue Cross Blue Shield is the tightest at $713.00, suggesting more consistent contract rates for Blue Cross Blue Shield and greater spread for UnitedHealth Group.