Ask Dr. Z

Physician billing - Pt had a LHC w/ stent for anteroseptal MI and later in the same day, patient develops a high degree AV block so returns to the cath lab requiring a temporary wire placed same day, same provider but separate encounter. There is a 0-edit between the cath and the temporary pacer so the -59 modifier cannot override the edit. Does that mean that even in a situation such as this, the pacer is not billable?