Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: Which CPT Codes and ICD-9 codes apply to changing a pacemaker battery?

Washington Subscriber

Answer: A pacemaker battery is known as a pulse generator. You report it based on the type of generator: 33212 (Insertion or replacement of pacemaker pulse generator only; single chamber, atrial or ventricular) for a single chamber or 33213 (... dual chamber) for a dual.

If you're coding for anesthesia during the procedure instead of the replacement itself, report 00530 (Anesthesia for permanent transvenous pacemaker insertion).

Diagnosis: The diagnosis for pacemaker replacement depends on what led to the procedure. If you have documentation of a mechanical breakdown, report 996.00 (Mechanical complication of cardiac device, implant, and graft; unspecified device, implant, and graft). If the battery had reached the end of its expected life, report V53.31 (Fitting and adjustment of other device; cardiac pacemaker). If the battery stopped working before its expected end of life, submit 996.01 (Mechanical complication of cardiac device, implant, and graft; due to cardiac pacemaker [electrode]).