FeeBase
Log inGet started
Menu

CPT code 33234: Pacemaker lead removal, single-lead transvenous system2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports transvenous removal of a pacing electrode from a single-lead pacemaker system, such as for lead malfunction or device infection.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities2.4K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $429.20 for 33234 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 33234

Pacemaker lead removal, single-lead transvenous system

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
7.47
Total RVUs
12.85
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$429.20

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 33234 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 33234 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 33234 covers

This service removes a transvenous pacing electrode from a single-lead pacemaker system, whether the lead is atrial or ventricular. It is typically performed by an electrophysiologist or another physician experienced in lead extraction in a hospital setting. Clinical circumstances may include an infected device system or a malfunctioning lead requiring removal. This code describes electrode removal, not removal of the pacemaker pulse generator alone.

Select the code based on the single-lead system and the removal approach. The operative report should identify the system configuration, the electrode removed, the transvenous approach, and the clinical reason for extraction. If the generator is also removed, code 33233 describes that separate service. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate; assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted, and co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.

Where 33234 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

33234 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$388.57
AlaskaUnavailable$535.42
ArizonaUnavailable$416.99
ArkansasUnavailable$383.64
Atlanta, GAUnavailable$443.70
Austin, TXUnavailable$430.01
Bakersfield, CAUnavailable$422.56
Baltimore area, MDUnavailable$455.95
Beaumont, TXUnavailable$414.15
Brazoria, TXUnavailable$417.18

33234 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

View every state and territory as a table
33234 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 33234 rate is calculated

Each of 33234’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.

How the rate is built · 33234

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work7.47

7.47 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense3.62

3.62 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice1.76

1.76 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

12.8500

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$429.20

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 33234

33234 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 33234

Pacemaker lead removal, single-lead transvenous system

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period090Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.09/0.84/0.07Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 33234

Pacemaker lead removal, single-lead transvenous system

90-day global period ends

Dec 30, 2026

Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).

Visit on Oct 31, 2026

Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.

  • 24Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78Unplanned return to the operating room for a related complication
SurgeryVisit
Sep 23, 2026Jan 10, 2027

Pre-op dayGlobal period

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

33234 without 51 · national facility

$429.20

Pacemaker lead removal, single-lead transvenous system

33234-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$214.60

When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).

When to use modifier 51

33234 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 33234

    Pacemaker lead removal, single-lead transvenous system7.47 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 33233

    Pacemaker generator removal, without replacement3.06 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 33235

    Pacemaker lead removal, dual-lead system9.65 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 33244

    ICD lead extraction, transvenous approach13.4 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

33233Pacemaker generator removalWithout replacement
33233 describes removal of the pacemaker pulse generator. Use 33234 for removal of the electrode from a single-lead system.
33235Pacemaker lead removalDual-lead system
33235 applies to a dual-lead pacemaker system; 33234 is for a single-lead system.
33244ICD lead extractionTransvenous approach
33244 describes transvenous electrode extraction for an implantable defibrillator system, not a pacemaker system.

Codes related to 33234

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 33234
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Often billed with
33233Pacemaker generator removal, without replacementDescribes pacemaker pulse-generator removal when the generator is also removed during the encounter.No office rate
Same family
33235Pacemaker lead removal, dual-lead systemElectrode removal for a dual-lead rather than single-lead pacemaker system.No office rate
Used instead
33244ICD lead extraction, transvenous approachTransvenous electrode extraction for an implantable defibrillator system rather than a pacemaker.No office rate

33234 billing questions

How does 33234 differ from 33235?

33234 is for removal from a single-lead pacemaker system, with an atrial or ventricular lead. Code 33235 is for a dual-lead system.

Does 33234 include removal of the pulse generator?

No. It describes electrode removal; code 33233 describes removal of a pacemaker pulse generator. When both are removed, document each service performed.

Is this code reported for each part of the lead?

Code selection is based on the pacemaker system configuration, not on separate portions of one electrode. Document the single-lead system and the electrode removed.

Can modifier 50 be used for right- and left-sided leads?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code. The descriptor and anatomy do not support modifier 50.

What documentation supports reporting 33234?

The operative report should establish a single-lead pacemaker system, identify the atrial or ventricular electrode removed, describe the transvenous removal, and state the clinical indication.

How does the 90-day global affect follow-up care?

The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global period.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.

CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027

Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
RVUs for 33234PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,863 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

Did this answer your question about what 33234 pays?

Tell us what you were actually trying to work out. We’ll answer you directly, or build the page that does.

Fee sheets

Put 33234 and the rest of your codes on one sheet

Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.

Build my fee sheet