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Open Chest Removal of Pacemaker Wires

Maryland rates for HCPCS 33238

Removal of the permanent wires that run from a pacemaker to the heart, done by opening the chest to reach them directly. This route is used when the wires cannot be taken out by simpler means, for example because scar tissue has locked them in place. The battery unit itself is dealt with separately.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Open Chest Removal of Pacemaker Wires cost?

$1,023

Typical physician fee. In Maryland, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,023 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $759 to $1,175.

These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $562 · 10th to 90th $302 to $1,380Professionalmedian $1,047 · 10th to 90th $851 to $1,905
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $562professional $1,047

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,047.13
Median
$1,174.90
Typical High
$1,174.90
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$933.25
Median
$1,047.13
Typical High
$1,047.13
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$489.78
Median
$602.56
Typical High
$8,128.31
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$891.25
Median
$1,071.52
Typical High
$2,454.71
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$977.24
Median
$1,122.02
Typical High
$1,905.46
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$257.04
Median
$537.03
Typical High
$1,230.27
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$1,202.26
Typical High
$2,630.27
Wellpoint
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$758.58
Median
$758.58
Typical High
$1,513.56
6 more rates with less common billing modifiers

A modifier changes what was billed, for example a reduced or repeated service. Each of these modifiers carries under 10% of the published rates for this code. Modifier combinations, and modifiers with fewer than 30 rates for a carrier, are not listed.

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$524.81
Median
$588.84
Typical High
$588.84
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$213.80
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$239.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$794.33
Median
$870.96
Typical High
$891.25
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$177.83
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$117.49
Typical High
$117.49
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$741.31
Median
$812.83
Typical High
$831.76

Where Maryland sits

The same service costs 4.7 times more in Alaska than in Texas. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Touch or drag across it to read any state, then open that state for its carriers and full range.

Maryland· 45th of 51

$1,023

AK $3,802TX $813

Median negotiated rate in each state, from every insurer that publishes one. States where no insurer publishes a rate for this service are not shown.