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Question: What’s the best code to report a procedure involving a right ventricular permanent leadless pacemaker via transcatheter?

Pennsylvania Subscriber

Answer: If your cardiologist performs a procedure involving inserting or replacing a right ventricular permanent leadless pacemaker via a transcatheter, you can report 33274 (Transcatheter insertion or replacement of permanent leadless pacemaker, right ventricular, including imaging guidance (eg, fluoroscopy, venous ultrasound, ventriculography, femoral venography) and device evaluation (eg, interrogation or programming), when performed). Beware that 33274 includes imaging guidance and testing/programming of a leadless pacemaker when performed, so you cannot report such services separately.

According to CPT^® guidelines, a complete leadless cardiac pacemaker system includes a pulse generator with a built-in battery and an electrode for implantation in a cardiac chamber through a transcatheter approach. If the cardiologist removes and replaces the system during the same session, report 33274.

Rachel Dorrell, MA, MS, CPC-A, CPPM, Development Editor, ÐÇ¿ÕÈë¿Ú