Cardiology Coding Alert

Question: My cardiologist incised the skin of the patient’s upper chest and created a small subcutaneous pocket for implantation of a cardiac rhythm monitor. He positioned the device per the manufacturer’s instructions. He then tested the device to verify adequate function and sutured it in place. After closing the incision, he programed the device and educated the patient on how to use it. What code should I report for this procedure?

North Carolina Subscriber

Answer: You should report 33285 (Insertion, subcutaneous cardiac rhythm monitor, including programming) for this procedure.

Cardiac rhythm monitors defined: “A subcutaneous cardiac rhythm monitor, also known as a cardiac event recorder or implantable/insertable loop recorder (ILR), is a subcutaneously placed device that continuously records the electrocardiographic rhythm, triggered automatically by rapid, irregular and/or slow heart rates or by the patient during a symptomatic episode,” per the CPT^® guidelines. “A subcutaneous cardiac rhythm monitor is placed using a small parasternal incision followed by insertion of the monitor into a small subcutaneous pre-pectoral pocket, followed by closure of the incision.”