Breast Biopsies on Both Breasts – Same Session

Question:

Our breast surgeon performed biopsies (with a clip) on both the right and left breasts using ultrasound imaging. Do we code 19083 x 2 units since they are different breasts, or would we use 19083 and 19084 as the add-on code?

Answer:

If additional lesions (as you have described above) are biopsied in the contralateral breast using the same imaging, report the primary code and the add-on code for the second lesion. If more than one lesion is biopsied, using different imaging modalities, report the appropriate primary code for each.

*This response is based on the best information available as of 4/11/24.