Surgery: Cardiovascular System (Q&A) (January 2019)
January 2019 page 14a
Surgery: Cardiovascular System
Question: If three pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) electrodes (right atrial [RA], right ventricular [RV], and left ventricular [LV]) are repaired, what code(s) should be reported?
Answer: There is no CPT code to describe the repair of three leads. Therefore, when three electrodes are repaired, code 33999, Unlisted procedure, cardiac surgery, should be reported. When reporting an unlisted code to describe a procedure or service, it may be necessary to submit supporting documentation (eg, procedure report) with the claim to provide adequate description of the nature, extent, and need for the procedure...
Note: The following article synopsis was NOT provided by the AMA. It was created by Find-A-Code/innoviHealth.
Article Overview
This brief article from CPT Assistant focuses on a cardiovascular surgery coding question involving repair of device electrodes/leads and the reporting considerations for an unlisted procedure code. It is relevant to coders, billers, and reimbursement staff who work with cardiac device procedures and payer documentation requirements.
Why This Topic Matters
It helps readers quickly determine whether the article applies to a specific pacemaker or ICD repair scenario and understand that the discussion centers on CPT reporting and payer documentation considerations.
What You Will Learn
How the article frames a cardiovascular surgery coding question
What general type of coding issue is discussed for pacemaker or ICD lead repair
Why documentation and payer policy are mentioned in relation to an unlisted procedure code
How the article fits within CPT Assistant guidance for surgery/cardiovascular system topics
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