Hi there, I'm Dr. Smith, a pulmonologist with over 10 years of experience in diagnosing and treating respiratory diseases. I perform bronchoscopies regularly as part of my practice.

You're asking about CPT codes for bronchoscopy, which is a bit like asking for the price of a car without specifying the make, model, or any added features. Let me explain why it's not so simple and walk you through the key factors that determine the specific code.

Understanding CPT Codes

CPT stands for Current Procedural Terminology. These codes are a standardized way for healthcare providers to communicate with insurance companies about the specific procedures they perform. Each distinct medical procedure, including variations, has a unique CPT code.

**Why There Isn't Just One Bronchoscopy Code**

Bronchoscopy is a broad term encompassing a range of procedures using a bronchoscope—a thin, flexible tube with a camera—to visualize and examine the airways. The complexity and purpose of a bronchoscopy can vary greatly, leading to different CPT codes.

**Factors Influencing Bronchoscopy CPT Codes:**

Here are the primary factors that determine the specific CPT code assigned to a bronchoscopy:


1. Purpose of the Bronchoscopy:

* Diagnostic Bronchoscopy: Performed to investigate a problem, such as a persistent cough, abnormal chest X-ray, or difficulty breathing.
* Therapeutic Bronchoscopy: Performed to treat a condition, such as removing a foreign object, widening an airway, or administering medication directly to the lungs.


2. Additional Procedures Performed:

* Biopsy: Taking a small tissue sample for examination under a microscope. Codes vary depending on the biopsy method (e.g., forceps biopsy, brush biopsy) and location.
* Lavage: Flushing the airways with a sterile solution and collecting the fluid for analysis (bronchoalveolar lavage or BAL).
* Stent Placement: Inserting a small tube to keep an airway open.
* Foreign Body Removal: Removing an object lodged in the airway.
* Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS): Using ultrasound to visualize lymph nodes and other structures within the chest.
* Electrocautery/Laser Therapy: Using heat or light energy to remove tissue or stop bleeding.
* Cryotherapy: Using extreme cold to destroy abnormal tissue.
* Photodynamic Therapy (PDT): Using light and a special drug to destroy cancer cells.
* Airway Stenting: Placing a stent to keep the airway open.
* Balloon Bronchoplasty: Using a balloon to widen narrowed airways.


3. Patient Setting:

* Outpatient: Performed in a hospital or clinic, and the patient goes home the same day.
* Inpatient: Performed during a hospital stay.

Common Bronchoscopy CPT Codes:

It's impossible to give you the *exact* CPT code without knowing the specifics of the procedure. However, here are some of the more commonly used codes for bronchoscopy:

* 31622: Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible; diagnostic, with or without cell washing (for microbiology, cytology)
* 31623: Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible; with bronchial alveolar lavage
* 31624: Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible; with transbronchial biopsy(s), single lobe
* 31625: Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible; with transbronchial biopsy(s), each additional lobe
* 31628: Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible; with bronchial thermoplasty, first 2 lobes
* 31629: Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible; with bronchial thermoplasty, each additional lobe (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
* 31632: Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible; with placement of fiducial markers, 1 or 2 markers
* 31633: Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible; with placement of fiducial markers, each additional marker (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
* 31641: Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible; with placement of airway stent(s), initial bronchus
* 31642: Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible; with placement of airway stent(s), each additional bronchus (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
* 31645: Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible; with dilation of bronchial stricture(s) (eg, balloon dilation, electrocautery, laser, cryoablation)
* 31652: Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible; with removal of foreign body(ies) from tracheobronchial tree
* 31653: Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible therapeutic; with control of tracheobronchial hemorrhage
* 31656: Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible therapeutic; with destruction of tumor(s), polyp(s), or tissue (eg, laser, cryoablation, electrocautery, photodynamic therapy [PDT])

Consulting Your Coding Resources

* Medical Coder: The most reliable way to determine the correct CPT code is to consult with a certified medical coder. They are trained to interpret medical documentation and assign the appropriate codes.
* CPT Manual: The American Medical Association (AMA) publishes the CPT manual, which...read more >>

A surgeon performed a bronchoscopy with biopy and washing of the left lung. The majority of us feel that the CPT code should just be 31625. But the book states that it should be 31622 AND 31625.read more >>