Cardiology Coding Alert
Look to the Word 'Electrode(s)' for 33234, 33235
Nebraska Subscriber
Answer: The common definition shared between codes 33234 (Removal of transvenous pacemaker electrode[s]; single lead system, atrial or ventricular) and 33235 (Removal of transvenous pacemaker electrode[s]; dual lead system) includes the word "electrode(s)." This establishes that either code could be applicable to the removal of single or multiple electrodes.
The unique portion of the definitions differentiate the two codes only by the type of system (dual versus single chamber.)
Look at the introduction in the CPT book where it addresses "format of the terminology." CPT sets up the code descriptions so that you'll find a "common part" of the definition in one code and a unique part for subsequent codes that CPT indents.
The full definition of those indented code definitions includes the common definition (the part prior to the semi-colon in the previous/non-indented definition) plus the unique definition of that specific code in the indented code definition.
Note: Codes 33216 (Insertion of a transvenous electrode; single-chamber [one electrode] permanent pacemaker or single-chamber pacing cardioverter-defibrillator) and 33217 (... dual-chamber [two electrodes] permanent pacemaker or dual-chamber pacing cardioverter-defibrillator) have a similar setup. But it looks as if the parenthetical notes "(one electrode)" and "(two electrodes)" may be intended to define and illustrate the difference between a single- and a dual-chamber device as opposed to indicating how many electrodes the cardiologist inserted during the procedure.
Many practices bill these out the wrong way, but reviewing the CPT layout information and the code definition's punctuation will illustrate that the codes in the article were correct.
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