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Billing code 33272: Defibrillator removalMedicare rate & RVUs

Removal of an implanted subcutaneous defibrillator system, including its generator and electrode, by a clinician performing a device extraction procedure.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities129 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $310.29 for 33272 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 33272

Defibrillator removal

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
5.28
Total RVUs
9.29
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$310.29

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 33272 → · 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.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 33272 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 33272 covers

This code describes removal of a subcutaneous implantable defibrillator system, including the pulse generator and electrode or electrodes. An electrophysiologist or cardiac surgeon typically performs the extraction in a hospital operating room or electrophysiology setting. The procedure may be needed for infection, device malfunction, or another clinical reason for taking the system out. The subcutaneous system is distinct from a transvenous ICD, whose lead runs through the veins into the heart.

Report the code when the documented procedure removes the subcutaneous defibrillator system; record the device type, components removed, indication, and operative work. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery services are not paid, and co-surgeon and team-surgery billing 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 33272 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

33272 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$280.86
Alaska*Unavailable$386.06
ArizonaUnavailable$301.50
ArkansasUnavailable$277.28
AtlantaUnavailable$320.57
AustinUnavailable$311.35
BakersfieldUnavailable$306.50
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$329.63
BeaumontUnavailable$299.02
BrazoriaUnavailable$301.83

33272 rates by state

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

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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
33272 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 33272 rate is calculated

Each of 33272’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 · 33272

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 5.28Practice expense 2.78Malpractice 1.23

9.2900 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$310.29

All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 33272

33272 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 33272

Defibrillator removal

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 · 33272

Defibrillator removal

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.

  • 24 Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79 Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58 Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78 Unplanned 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

33272 without 51 · national facility

$310.29

Defibrillator removal

33272-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$155.15

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

33272 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

33272 vs 33270 vs 33271 vs 33263: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 33272
    Defibrillator removal · 5.28 wRVU
    —
  • 33270
    Defibrillator implant · 8.87 wRVU
    —
  • 33271
    Defibrillator electrode · 7.31 wRVU
    —
  • 33263
    ICD generator exchange · 5.93 wRVU
    —

How to choose

33270Defibrillator implant
Use 33270 for insertion or replacement of a subcutaneous ICD system. Use 33272 when the subcutaneous system is being removed.
33271Defibrillator electrode
33271 covers insertion of a subcutaneous ICD electrode. It is not the code for extracting an implanted system.
33263ICD generator exchange
33263 describes removal and replacement of a transvenous ICD pulse generator with two leads. This code is for removal of a subcutaneous defibrillator system.

Codes related to 33272

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

Codes related to 33272
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
33270Defibrillator implantInsertion or replacement of a subcutaneous ICD system, rather than removal.No office rate
33271Defibrillator electrodeInsertion of a subcutaneous ICD electrode; this code covers system removal.No office rate
33273S-ICD electrodeRepositioning a previously implanted subcutaneous ICD electrode, not removing the system.No office rate

33272 billing questions

How is removal distinguished from subcutaneous ICD implantation or replacement?

This code is for taking out the subcutaneous defibrillator system. Code 33270 describes insertion or replacement of a subcutaneous ICD system.

Does this code include removal of the electrode?

The code covers removal of the subcutaneous system, including its electrode or electrodes. Document which system components were removed.

Can modifier 50 be used for removal on both sides?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code.

How does the 90-day global period affect follow-up billing?

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

Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be billed?

Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted under the CMS rules provided.

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 33272PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,895 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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