CMS Finalizes New Concomitant MS-DRG for LAAO and Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation
On August 1st, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final rule for inpatient hospital services for fiscal year (FY) 2025.
In the rule, CMS finalized the proposal to create a new MS-DRG 317 (Concomitant Left Atrial Appendage Closure and Cardiac Ablation) for percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) and cardiac ablation to treat atrial fibrillation when both procedures are performed by a single physician on the same patient during the same operative session.
As requested by the Society in our comment letter on the proposed rule, CMS included pulsed field ablation (02583ZF - Destruction of conduction mechanism using irreversible electroporation, percutaneous approach) in the coding logic for the new concomitant payment structure, along with radiofrequency and cryotherapy energy sources. We commend the agency for adopting this recommendation as pulsed field ablation is becoming more prevalent as an energy source for the treatment of paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation ablation.
The new concomitant MS-DRG 317 payment for LAAC and cardiac ablation procedures will be effective October 1, 2024.