Radiology Coding Alert

Question: With the deletion of 31620 in 2016, how can we report endobronchial ultrasound?

Answer: Effective January 1, 2016, CPT^® has introduced new codes for endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) procedures.

Until 2015, you could report EBUS services using add-on code, +31620 (Endobronchial ultrasound [EBUS] during bronchoscopic diagnostic or therapeutic intervention[s] [List separately in addition to code for primary procedure(s)]). You would use this add-on EBUS code along with the codes describing the primary procedures, for example, 31629 (Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible, including fluoroscopic guidance, when performed; with transbronchial needle aspiration biopsy[s], trachea, main stem and/or lobar bronchus[i]).

Under CPT^® 2016, you no longer report EBUS as add-on procedure with another primary procedure. You now submit only a single code for the EBUS and the underlying bronchoscopy procedure.

Mark these new codes: Following are three new codes you have for reporting EBUS with bronchoscopy:

31652, Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible, including fluoroscopic guidance, when performed; with endobronchial ultrasound [EBUS] guided transtracheal and/or transbronchial sampling [e.g., aspiration(s)/biopsy(ies)], one or two mediastinal and/or hilar lymph node stations or structures

31653,  … 3 or more mediastinal and/or hilar lymph node stations or structures

+31654, Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible, including fluoroscopic guidance, when performed; with transendoscopic endobronchial ultrasound [EBUS] during bronchoscopic diagnostic or therapeutic intervention[s] for peripheral lesion[s] [List separately in addition to code for primary procedure(s)

What is EBUS? EBUS is the procedure of doing an ultrasound assessment during a bronchoscopic procedure. Your physician will introduce an ultrasound down with a bronchoscope into the bronchial tree. The frequencies of returning waves indicate the location of lesions in the bronchial tree. The physician will add on the ultrasound assessment when a vascular abnormality is detected during a diagnostic bronchoscopy. The physician may also take biopsies or aspirations with EBUS support.