Summary & Overview
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.
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
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A healthy volunteer or matched related/unrelated donor presents for bone marrow harvest to provide hematopoietic stem cells for allogeneic transplantation. Typical donors are screened preoperatively with history, physical exam, coagulation studies, and infectious disease testing. On the day of service the donor is placed in the supine position for sternal aspiration or prone/lateral for posterior iliac crest harvest under conscious sedation or general anesthesia per institutional protocol. The provider uses a sterile technique to insert a long needle or trocar into the posterior iliac crest (most common) or sternum when indicated, aspirating marrow and, if requested, obtaining core biopsy specimens to collect sufficient marrow volume for transplantation. Vital signs and blood loss are monitored; samples are labeled and sent to the transplant laboratory for processing. Post-procedure care includes pressure dressing, monitoring for bleeding or pain, and discharge instructions for activity limitation and analgesia. Typical site of service: hospital outpatient surgical unit, ambulatory surgery center, or inpatient operating room when performed on hospitalized donors or recipients.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier (standard) | Use when no special circumstance modifier applies to the service. |