Summary & Overview
Cardiac Defibrillator Implant with MCC or Carotid Sinus Neurostimulator: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview
DRG 276 encompasses inpatient admissions for cardiac defibrillator implantation with Major Complication or Comorbidity or for carotid sinus neurostimulator implantation, affecting resource intensity and length of stay. Proper classification impacts Medicare inpatient reimbursement because the Diagnosis-Related Group assignment—driven by primary procedure and comorbid diagnoses—determines payment weight.
DRG 276 Overview
DRG 276 covers inpatient cases involving implantation or replacement of a cardiac defibrillator with Major Complication or Comorbidity or implantation of a carotid sinus neurostimulator. These procedures are high-cost device-based interventions typically performed by cardiology or electrophysiology teams and often require intensive monitoring and possible management of serious comorbid conditions. The Diagnosis-Related Group matters for Medicare payment because the presence of a Major Complication or Comorbidity increases relative weight and reimbursement, reflecting greater resource use. Accurate coding of principal procedure and secondary diagnoses determines classification into this Diagnosis-Related Group for Medicare inpatient reimbursement.