No office rate
33278 is for removal of the complete stimulator system. Use 33279 when the service removes the transvenous electrode array rather than the complete system.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
33279 Lead removal Medicare reimbursement rates in Florida
Reports removal of the transvenous electrode array from an implanted phrenic nerve stimulation system, without removal of the complete system. Compare 33279 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities in Florida.
Amounts below use the non-QP conversion factor for participating physicians. These are base physician payments before claim-level adjustments, not patient costs or total hospital charges.
What does Medicare pay for 33279 in Florida?
Florida has 3 payment localities in this comparison. Use the service location to choose the applicable amount. These are the supported base rates for the 3 payment areas shown below, using the same CMS release.
Office / nonfacility
No supported rate
Facility setting
$326.37–$378.16
3 of 3 localities have a supported rate.
These are locality ranges, not averages or address-specific quotes. A facility-setting amount covers the physician service; it does not include a hospital’s separate bill. Choose a locality below to inspect its calculation, compare other payment areas, or price a percentage of Medicare.
Where 33279 pays more and less in Florida
Cardiac device surgery
About 33279: Transvenous phrenic stimulator lead removal
Reports removal of the transvenous electrode array from an implanted phrenic nerve stimulation system, without removal of the complete system.
This service involves extracting the transvenous electrode array used to stimulate the phrenic nerve; it is distinct from removing the pulse generator or the complete implanted system. A cardiologist, electrophysiologist, or other qualified physician may perform it in a cardiac catheterization or electrophysiology laboratory, or an operating room. The device is used to treat central sleep apnea, and lead removal may be needed for a lead problem or as part of device management.
Report 33279 when the transvenous electrode array is removed, and document the lead removal and the device components addressed. Use the code for the actual lead service rather than generator-only or complete-system removal. The service has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
CMS billing rules for 33279
- Global period
- Major surgery with a 90-day global period: the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included.
- Multiple procedures
- Standard multiple procedure reduction: the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50% when performed in the same session.
- Bilateral procedures
- Bilateral adjustment does not apply; the descriptor or anatomy makes modifier 50 inappropriate.
- Assistant at surgery
- Statutory restriction: assistant at surgery is not paid.
- Co-surgeons
- Co-surgeons not permitted.
- Team surgery
- Team surgery not permitted.
Where the value comes from
- Work RVU5.28 · 57%
- Practice expense (office) RVU2.67 · 29%
- Malpractice RVU1.29 · 14%
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.
33279 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Florida, from the same CMS release.
No office rate
33280 describes removal of the pulse generator alone. 33279 describes removal of the transvenous electrode array.
No office rate
33281 is for repositioning a previously implanted transvenous electrode array. 33279 is for removing the array.
No office rate
33288 describes removal and replacement of the transvenous electrode array; 33279 describes removal without replacement as part of that service.
Compare 33279 by payment locality
Find the payment area for your service address, then open its rate page for calculation inputs, release history and the percentage-of-Medicare tool. A city may cross payment-area boundaries; the ZIP lookup above helps resolve the location.
3 of 3 payment localities
Fort Lauderdale →
Office / nonfacility
Unavailable
Facility
$344.60
Miami →
Office / nonfacility
Unavailable
Facility
$378.16
Rest Of Florida →
Office / nonfacility
Unavailable
Facility
$326.37
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33279 billing questions
When should 33279 be reported instead of 33278?
Use 33279 for removal of the transvenous electrode array. Code 33278 describes removal of the complete phrenic nerve stimulator system, including its generator and lead or leads.
How does 33279 differ from generator-only removal?
33279 represents removal of the transvenous electrode array. If only the pulse generator is removed, use 33280 instead.
Is 33279 appropriate when the lead is repositioned?
No. Repositioning a previously implanted transvenous electrode array is described by 33281; 33279 is for removal.
What documentation supports 33279?
Document removal of the transvenous phrenic nerve stimulator electrode array and identify which device components were addressed. The record should distinguish lead removal from generator-only or complete-system removal.
Can modifier 50 or an assistant-at-surgery claim be used?
Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this service. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for 33279.
How is 33279 paid with another procedure in the same session?
Under the standard multiple procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures in that session are subject to a 50% reduction.
Where these rates come from
FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense, and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indices and the applicable conversion factor. Unavailable or separately priced services are labeled rather than assigned a made-up amount.
Source: RVU26D. Effective 2026-10-01 through the day before 2027-01-01.
3,89933276,,Insj phrnc nrv stim sys,A,,9.26,3.76,NA,3.76,,2.11,15.13,15.13,0,090,0.09,0.84,0.07,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,90033277,,Insj phrnc nrv stim transvns,A,,5.29,1.09,NA,1.09,,1.27,7.65,7.65,0,ZZZ,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,90133278,,Rmvl phrnc nrv stim sys,A,,9.31,3.51,NA,3.51,,2.06,14.88,14.88,0,090,0.09,0.84,0.07,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,90233279,,Rmvl phrnc nrv stim transvns,A,,5.28,2.67,NA,2.67,,1.29,9.24,9.24,0,090,0.09,0.84,0.07,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,90333280,,Rmvl phrnc nrv stim pg only,A,,2.96,2.09,NA,2.09,,0.70,5.75,5.75,0,090,0.09,0.84,0.07,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,90433281,,Reposg phrnc nrv stim trnsvn,A,,5.85,2.89,NA,2.89,,1.40,10.14,10.14,0,090,0.09,0.84,0.07,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,90533285,,Insj subq car rhythm mntr,A,,1.49,118.27,,0.42,,0.36,120.12,2.27,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00