CPT code 35600 denotes open surgical harvest of an arterial segment from the patient’s arm to be used as a conduit for coronary artery bypass. This code captures a distinct graft-harvesting step that is integral to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedures and can affect surgical coding, resource use, and payment decisions. Nationally, accurate use of this code matters for procedure-level quality measurement, operative cost accounting, and appropriate reimbursement for the additional surgical work of harvesting an arterial graft.

Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context and the procedure’s role in CABG, along with benchmarks and policy-relevant considerations where available. The publication outlines how this code interacts with surgical service lines, expected sites of service, and common modifier usage (listed separately), and highlights gaps where Data not available in the input prevents detailed payer-specific rates or utilization metrics.

This briefing is intended for coding professionals, surgical services administrators, and policy analysts seeking a clear summary of the code’s clinical meaning, typical care setting, and where to look next for payer-specific payment and utilization data.