Summary & Overview
HCPCS C1882: Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator, Other Than Single or Dual Chamber
HCPCS Level II code C1882 denotes an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) other than single- or dual-chamber devices. These multi-chamber or otherwise unspecified ICDs are critical in preventing sudden cardiac death by detecting and treating life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Nationally, ICD implantation procedures represent high-cost, high-acuity cardiac device services with implications for hospital resource use, device supply chains, and payer coverage policies.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the clinical role of the device, typical sites of service for implantation, common billing modifiers associated with device services, and guidance on where to locate relevant diagnosis and billing pairings.
The publication provides benchmarks and policy context relevant to payers and providers: typical utilization settings, payer coverage patterns, and billing considerations for device implantation claims. It also highlights where input data were unavailable and how that affects interpretation. This summary is intended for a national audience of health plan analysts, hospital billing managers, and clinical program directors seeking a focused briefing on HCPCS Level II code C1882 and its role in cardiac device services.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code C1882 describes an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) other than single or dual chamber. The code covers devices intended to detect and terminate life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias by delivering cardioversion or defibrillation therapy.
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Service type: Implantable cardiac device therapy (cardioverter-defibrillator implantation)
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Typical site of service: Inpatient or outpatient hospital setting, cardiac electrophysiology laboratory, or ambulatory surgical center depending on clinical indication and facility capability.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a 68-year-old male with ischemic cardiomyopathy and a left ventricular ejection fraction of 28% who presents for implantation of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator that is neither single- nor dual‑chamber (a multi‑site or subcutaneous ICD configuration). The clinical workflow begins with outpatient cardiology evaluation documenting indications for sudden cardiac death prevention, cardiac imaging (echocardiogram) confirming low ejection fraction, and discussion of risks and benefits. Preoperative evaluation includes medication review, anticoagulation management, and device counseling. On the day of service the patient undergoes device implantation in the cardiac catheterization or electrophysiology operating room under monitored anesthesia care or general anesthesia; intraoperative testing includes lead placement, threshold testing, and defibrillation threshold testing as indicated. Postoperative care includes device programming, chest radiograph to confirm lead/device position, short observation in recovery or an overnight stay for monitoring, and discharge instructions with outpatient device clinic follow-up for wound check and remote monitoring enrollment.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier — standard reporting | Use when no special modifier applies and the service is billed as usual |