AHA Coding Clinic® for HCPCS - 2014 Issue 3; Ask the Editor

Revision of skin pocket for pacemaker

A patient was seen at our facility with a history of status post cardiac pacemaker. Her complaint is focal tenderness in the pocket area overlying the site of the lead suture sleeves. Due to the tenderness she avoids wearing a bra strap and her automobile seat-belt. The physician scheduled the patient to undergo a pacemaker pocket revision. According to the operative report, an incision was made to the existing scar line and the generator and electrodes were removed. The suturing sleeves around the electrodes were also excised. Then the generator and electrodes were placed back into the pocket. Our dilemma involves the assignment of the correct CPT code for the procedure performed. The code narrative for CPT code 33222 was revised from “Revision or relocation of skin pocket for pacemaker” to “Relocation of skin pocket for pacemaker.” What CPT code would accurately capture the procedure performed in this encounter?  ...

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