Inpatient PPS
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
Ventricular assist device procedure code 37.66 will remain assigned to diagnosis related groups 104 or 105 (Cardiac Valve and Other Major Cardiothoracic Procedures) rather than being assigned to DRG 103 (Heart Transplant), according to a proposed rule on the hospital inpatient payment system issued in the May 5 Federal Register. The Health Care Financing Administration denied a request to move all VADs to DRG 103 "since heart assist devices are used across DRGs." Of the 47 procedures performed on Medicare beneficiaries in 1999, only 13 involved heart transplants and were assigned to DRG 103