Summary & Overview
CPT 38232: Autologous Bone Marrow Aspiration for Later Reinfusion
CPT code 38232 denotes autologous bone marrow aspiration performed to collect marrow for later reinfusion into the same patient. This procedure is clinically significant for patients requiring bone marrow support or restoration after therapies such as high-dose chemotherapy or certain hematologic interventions. Nationally, accurate coding for autologous marrow collection affects care coordination, claims processing, and coverage determinations across payers.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of the clinical service represented by the code, typical sites of service, and the payer landscape addressed in the publication. The report presents benchmarks where available, summarizes policy and coverage considerations relevant to autologous bone marrow aspiration and preservation, and provides clinical context to inform billing and documentation practices. Data not available in the input will be noted explicitly where appropriate.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 38232 describes a procedure in which a provider aspirates a patient’s bone marrow tissue with a needle for the purpose of collecting and later reimplanting that marrow into the same patient. Service type: Autologous bone marrow aspiration and preservation for later reinfusion. Typical site of service: Operative suite, procedure room, or inpatient setting where bone marrow aspiration and subsequent storage processes are performed.
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 42-year-old patient with aplastic anemia undergoes a therapeutic autologous bone marrow aspiration and subsequent reinfusion plan. The initial visit occurs in an outpatient procedure suite where a hematologist/oncologist performs a bone marrow aspiration under local anesthesia and conscious sedation. The aspirated marrow is processed, cryopreserved, and stored for later use. At a subsequent admission or ambulatory infusion visit the same patient returns for placement (reinfusion) of the previously harvested autologous bone marrow into the marrow cavity under sterile conditions. Typical workflow steps include pre-procedure evaluation (history, labs including CBC and coagulation panel), informed consent, aspiration with a marrow needle (usually from the posterior iliac crest), labeling and transport of the specimen to a tissue processing facility, cryopreservation, and later readmission for marrow thawing and reinfusion. Common monitoring includes hemodynamics and observation for acute complications such as bleeding or infection. The typical site of service is an outpatient ambulatory surgical center or hospital-based procedure room for the aspiration, and an outpatient infusion suite or inpatient unit for reinfusion depending on the clinical plan.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier — standard reporting | Use when no additional reporting modifier applies and the service is provided as described. |