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CPT 38230: Bone Marrow Harvest from Sternum or Pelvic Bone
CPT code 38230 denotes a bone marrow harvest procedure in which a long needle or trocar is inserted into the sternum or pelvic bone to collect bone marrow tissue from a donor for transplantation. This code captures the operative collection of hematopoietic tissue and is used across transplant centers, hematology-oncology services, and surgical suites. Nationally, accurate coding for marrow harvests affects resource allocation, transplant program reporting, and procedural reimbursement for high-acuity services.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context and service setting, typical billing considerations tied to surgical collection of marrow, and commonly used modifier sets. The publication summarizes national benchmarks where available and outlines relevant policy and coding updates that influence coverage and claim adjudication for marrow procurement procedures.
This briefing is intended to help coding professionals, transplant program administrators, and payers understand the clinical scope represented by CPT code 38230, common billing scenarios, and the operational settings in which the service is delivered. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 38230 describes a bone marrow harvesting procedure in which a provider inserts a long needle or trocar into the sternum or pelvic bone to obtain a sufficient quantity of bone marrow tissue from a donor for transplantation. This procedure is a surgical collection of hematopoietic tissue intended for use in allogeneic or autologous transplant settings.
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Service type: Surgical procedure — bone marrow harvest
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Typical site of service: Operating room, procedure suite, or other inpatient/outpatient surgical setting where sterile bone marrow collection can be performed