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AetnaAll Plans · Coverage · Medical Policy · Pulmonology, Oncology, Cardiothoracic Surgery +1 moreMedium impact

Electromagnetic Navigation-Guided Bronchoscopy (CPB 0776, reviewed 2026-06-08)

Effective date
Not stated in the notice
Identified
Aug 14, 2026

Summary

This electromagnetic navigation (EN)-guided bronchoscopy policy was last reviewed June 8, 2026. EN-guided bronchoscopy is medically necessary for the pathologic diagnosis of a peripheral pulmonary nodule that cannot be reached by standard bronchoscopy or a transthoracic biopsy approach, and for transbronchial dye injection to mark pulmonary nodules before resection by thoracoscopic surgery. Cone-beam CT augmented EN-guided bronchoscopy for biopsy of indeterminate pulmonary nodules, EN-guided microwave ablation, EN bronchoscopy with non-thermal ablation (electroporation), and trans-bronchial lung cryo-biopsy to improve the diagnostic yield of digital tomosynthesis-assisted EN-guided biopsy are experimental, investigational or unproven.

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What to do

Action · 6 steps
01Billing team: Bill CPT +31627 (31627) in addition to the primary bronchoscopy code, and HCPCS C7509, C7510 or C7511 under the same criteria, only when the procedure is medically necessary for the pathologic diagnosis of a peripheral pulmonary nodule that standard bronchoscopy or transthoracic biopsy cannot reach, or for transbronchial dye injection marking a pulmonary nodule before thoracoscopic resection.
02Use ICD-10 R91.1 or R91.8 for peripheral pulmonary nodules.
03Do not bill CPT 31627 for EN bronchoscopy with non-thermal ablation (electroporation), and do not bill R91.8 with that procedure.
04HCPCS C8005 is listed as not covered for these indications, and CPT 0600T and 0601T (irreversible electroporation ablation) are listed as not covered for the indications in this policy.
05Do not bill EN-guided microwave ablation, cone-beam CT augmented EN-guided biopsy, or trans-bronchial lung cryo-biopsy, because the policy lists them as experimental.
06Malignant lung neoplasm codes (C33, C34.00 to C34.92) and benign lung neoplasm codes (D14.2, D14.30 to D14.32) are listed as not covered for these procedures.

Codes mentioned

31627C7509C7510C7511C8005R91.1R91.8C33D14.2

Original notice

Electromagnetic Navigation-Guided Bronchoscopy (CPB 0776, reviewed 2026-06-08)
aetna.com · Always check the source before changing claims.
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Related policy hubs

Aetna policiesPulmonologyOncologyCardiothoracic SurgeryRadiation OncologyCode 31627Code C7509Code C7510Code C7511Code C8005Code R91.1Code R91.8Code C33Code D14.2

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