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Please note this question was answered in 2010. The coding advice may or may not be outdated.

Date: Apr 30, 2010

Question:

Please advise when to report temporary pacemaker with modifier -59. The Q & A's that I reviewed (#325 & 1554) do not match my billing scenario. Patient is admitted for complex percutaneous coronary intervention on three vessels (third redo). LVAD is inserted into the left ventricle which caused a complete heart block. Temporary pacemaker was then inserted. At the completion of the complex procedure, the LVAD was removed along with the pacemaker. Can 33210 be reported with modifier -59? Thank you

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