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Codes 33229, 33224

Date: Feb 11, 2014

Question:

We need your help with this scenario. Outpatient comes in for biventricular pacemaker generator change. Lead testing for left ventricular lead was 5v. MD states that he "decided to proceed with PM generator change and bring her back for lead revision after proper consent was obtained for possible laser lead extraction." Generator was changed (33229), and the patient left the area only to return later that same day for replacement of the left ventricular lead. Later that day patient returned to cath lab and had a new left ventricular lead inserted (33224). Old lead was capped. Can we bill for each encounter? Can we use a modifier -59 on one of the procedures? What is the correct way to code these two procedures?

Question ID : 5368
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