Pulmonology Coding Alert

Question: My pulmonologist performed a bronchoscopy, wash, brush, and multiple tracheal aspiration biopsies. What codes should I use to report the service?

Answer: You can report multiple procedures when performed at the same session when appropriately documented. You would report the procedure above with the following codes:

• 31629 for the needle aspiration biopsies of the trachea. Report this code only once since the biopsies came from one anatomical location
• 31623 for the brushings.

Washings do not get reported separately. They are considered part of the base procedure (31622, Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible, including fluoroscopic guidance, when performed; diagnostic, with cell washing, when performed [separate procedure]), which is not reported with any other bronchoscopy code when performed and reported on the same day.