Revenue Cycle Insider

Question: I’m new to pulmonology and could use some help with this case. The pulmonologist performed lymph node staging for five lymph nodes via endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS). They also sampled a nodule in the mid-third of the left lung via transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) with a radial EBUS probe.

How do I report the procedures?

Massachusetts Subscriber

Answer: You’ll use two CPT^® codes for this encounter: one for the EBUS lymph node staging and the other for the TBNA via a radial EBUS probe.

Assign 31653 (Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible, including fluoroscopic guidance, when performed; with endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) guided transtracheal and/or transbronchial sampling (eg, aspiration[s]/biopsy[ies]), 3 or more mediastinal and/or hilar lymph node stations or structures) to report the staging of the lymph nodes using EBUS.

Next, you’ll use 31629 (Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible, including fluoroscopic guidance, when performed; with transbronchial needle aspiration biopsy(s), trachea, main stem and/or lobar bronchus(i)) to report the TBNA of the left lung via a radial EBUS probe.

Mike Shaughnessy, BA, CPC, Production Editor, AAPC