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Pacemaker Temporary & Permanent

Can anyone advice whether we can code temporary pacemaker and permanent pacemaker on same day? The NCCI edit shows with 59 modifier is applicable.
can anyone help me to code this MR?
Preoperative Diagnosis: Syncope; Symptomatic Bradycardia; 3rd degree AV block; Conduction system disease with Bi-Fascicular Block.
Postoperative Diagnosis: Same as pre-op.
Procedures performed:
1) Left subclavian venogram.
2) Dual chamber permanent pacemaker implantation (Biotronik).
3) Analysis of atrial and ventricular leads.
4) Moderate sedation.
5) Temporary Transvenous Pacemaker Placement (through right femoral vein).
6) Ultrasound guided access of the right femoral vein.
CONSENT: Full benefits, risks, and alternatives to the procedure were explained to the patient. Informed consent was obtained from the patient.
PROCEDURE IN DETAIL: The patient was brought to the operating room in a fasting state. Left side of the chest was prepped in the usual sterile fashion. A time out was performed, and then moderate sedation was administered per protocol. Prior to making the incision prophylactic
antibiotics (with IV Ancef) were administered per protocol. Using real-time u/s guidance and lidocaine for local anesthesia the right femoral vein was accessed (single stick, single wall) and a 6Fr venous sheath was placed using modified seldinger technique. A balloon-tipped Temporary TV pacemaker was inserted into the RV. Lidocaine 1% was used as the local anesthetic to the left chest. A left subclavian/axillary venogram was performed and showed a patent subclavian vein. Subsequently, a blade was used to make a horizontal incision at the left chest (located slightly lateral to the mid-axillary line, approximately two inches in length and two finger breadths below the clavicle). A pocket was created using blunt dissection down to the pectoralis fascia; bleeding points were take care of using electrocautery. A percutaneous needle was introduced into the left subclavian vein under fluoroscopic guidance. Through the needle, after adequate venous flow was noted, the guidewire was passed and positioned in inferior vena cava under fluoroscopic guidance. Once the guidewire was in position, an 0-Ethibond suture was placed in a figure of 8 pattern. The 8 French sheath was inserted over the 0.035" wire; the introducer was removed and sheath flushed. A ventricular lead of BIOTRONIK Corporation was then introduced and advanced under fluoroscopic guidance with the help of a straight stylet into the right atrium. The straight stylet was then curved and re-inserted into the RV lead and used to position the lead at the apex. The lead was then actively fixated under fluoroscopic guidance. A good injury current was noted. The following parameters were obtained, which were within acceptable range: The R-wave amplitude was 7.6 millivolts The Lead impedance was 760 ohms Ventricular capturing threshold was 0.6 volts at 0.40ms. There was no diaphragmatic stimulation at 10 volts. Once the ventricular lead was adequately positioned, the guidewire was reinserted into the 8F sheath under fluoroscopic guidance, and sheath was split and removed over the wire. Then a 6 French introducer along with a sheath was inserted over the guidewire into the left subclavian vein. The atrial lead of BIOTRONIK Corporation was then advanced into the atrium with a straight wire. The straight wire was replaced with a Jshaped stylette and the lead was then positioned in the right atrial appendage; the lead was then actively fixated in place under fluoroscopic guidance. A good injury current was noted. The J-stylette was removed under fluoroscopic guidance and lead remained in place; a straight stylette was then inserted to the mid-portion of the lead. The following parameters were obtained, which were within acceptable range. The P-wave amplitude was 4.2 millivolts The Lead impedance was 702 ohms Atrial capturing threshold was 1.2 volts at 0.40ms. There was no diaphragmatic stimulation at 10 volts. Appropriate slack was provided to both leads and the sheath was peeled back and removed. Hemostasis was secured by closing the figure of 8 Ethibond suture. The leads were re-imaged and slack readjusted as needed. At this stage, the pocket was reinspected and small areas of bleeding were treated with electrocautery and the hemostasis was notably satisfactory. Both atrioventricular leads were secured to the chest wall, each with two 0-silk sutures. The pocket was then irrigated with triple antibiotic solution numerous times. The pocket was noted to be clean and dry on visual inspection. Both leads were then connected to the pulse generator of BIOTRONIK Corporation in hermetic fashion; "tug-test" was performed and both leads were secured in place within the generator. The pulse generator was placed in the preformed pocket and secured with 0-ethibond suture. Before closing the pacer pocket, Floseal was administered for additional hemostasis. The pocket was then closed with a single running 2-0 Vicryl layer, a double-running 3-0 Vicryl layer. Finally, DermaBond was applied to the pacer wound. The temporary pacemaker was removed under fluoroscopic guidance without issue. The patient tolerated the procedure well.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Adding new LV lead with pacemaker generator change, old LV lead not removed

Need help please. Our provider changed biventricular pacemaker due to depletion of the battery and noticed that LV lead was not working and inserted new one. it was not removed but new one added. I coded the scenario as 33229 and 33224 but 33229 is not allowed with 33224. Should I use 33225 instead?
thank so much for help.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Feds Make Imaging Pacemaker Patients Simpler

As of July, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is making things easier for medical coders, billers, and implanted pacemaker and defibrillator patients to receive a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. Clarifying Pacemaker Language CMS said in a Decision Memo dated April 10 it intends to change the language of section 220.2 of […]
AAPC Knowledge Center

Scheduled Follow Up with Pacemaker interrogation

Patient seen every 4 months. Chief complaint exactly the same every time ; dual chamber pacemaker implant due to complete av block, 2003, Hypertension, Hyperlipidemia and Hypothyroidism.
HPI: also the same copied and pasted from original history of pacemaker implant and continues as HPI with minor tweaks; Patient presented with chest pain and nausea, september 2003, diagnosed with AV block, dual chamber implanted, asymptomatic since implant. No current complaints except toe pain. Pacemaker interrogated today and shows: _____ blah blah blah___
ROS: negative except for HPI
Exam: We’ll say comprehensive for the sake of brevity. + toe pain
Impression:
Pacemaker function normal
Complete AV Block, asymptomatic
Hypertension
Hyperlipidemia
Hypothyroidism

Can a patient’s history of pacemaker implant and historical and/or maintenance conditions that are stable or asymptomatic, be carried over every visit to qualify as an E/M? Wouldn’t there have to be a chief complaint? These seem like periodic scheduled pacemaker interrogations that are being upcoded with an E/M visit. Billed as 99214 with 93280, every 4 -6 months. This provider is somewhat hostile. How do I tell him without accusing him that this E/M is not warranted, or is it? I try explaining medical necessity, I try explaining components of E/M, I’m written lengthy essays on how complicated this case was etc.., Makes me very uncomfortable to submit these claims. Had one today whereby patient was experiencing a noisy lead on PM, no other complaints, saw the patient 2 weeks prior for the same reason, both visits billed as 99215 with 93280.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

pacemaker lead extraction and explantation of generator

Can anyone tell me if you can bill 33233 for removal of generator along with 33235? The generator and leads are removed without reinsertion. The guidelines state "When reporting the system insertion or replacement codes, removal of a pulse generator (33233 or 33241) may be reported separately, when performed". Am I correct that removal of transvenous electrode(s) (33234,33235 or 33244) includes explantation of the generator if it is not being replaced or upgraded?

Thank you

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Coding for Pacemaker Pocket Revision

My provider did a revision for a permanent pacemaker pocket. The patient’s pacemaker moved into an uncomfortable position, so they had to relocate it to a different site. Everything I am reading tells me that this is included in other codes, but I am not sure what to use since that is all that was performed.

Can anyone help me properly this?

Thank you

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Aborted pacemaker placement

Hi, I could use some advice on this please. Would you bill this as a pacemaker placement 33207 with a 53 modifier along with a Venography? I appreciate the info.

PROCEDURE: Venogram was done on the right and left side-patent venous system was confirmed. The patient was prepped and draped in the usual sterile fashion. Access was gained into the left axillary vein after venography and fluoroscopy-first with a micropuncture wire and then with a regular wire. Right sided placement was confirmed after passing the wire below the diaphragm. The prior incision (made at the outside hospital was opened). The two wires were brought out of the incision.
**
The ventricular lead was advanced directly via a 7 Fr long sheath and positioned in the right ventricular mid septum under fluoroscopy. Lead characteristics were measured and were satisfactory. After I split the sheath there was copious bleeding seen. These occurred to have an arterial pulsation and were seen around the lead as well as in an area more lateral and inferior to the lead. I placed several purse-string sutures around the lead and cauterized other areas that appeared to be bleeding. Hemostasis could not be achieved.
*
I finally called the cardiac surgeons, who also placed purse string sutures around the lead with no effect.
*
After a long discussion about possible causes, that included damage to an arterial branch around the vein, or the main axillary artery itself, I decided to pull out the lead. Hemostasis was finally obtained by manual compression with gauze. Using a staged approach, compression was gradually released and hemostasis was confirmed. The wound was closed by the surgeon-please see his note for details.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum