W3620: Open bone biopsy as sole procedure
For guidance only. Always check the code and obtain authorisation from your insurer before treatment. Other insurers may use different codes and coding rules.
For guidance only. Procedure codes and descriptions on this site are provided for general guidance only and are not a guarantee of insurance cover or payment. Always check the correct code with your surgeon's secretary and obtain authorisation from your insurer before treatment. Insurers shown are examples only. Other insurers are available, and each may use the same, similar or different codes and coding rules.
Insurer listing
| Insurer | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bupa | Listed | Listed by Bupa |
| AXA Health | Listed | Listed by AXA Health |
| Vitality | Listed | Listed by Vitality |
| WPA | Listed | Listed by WPA |
Codes that can't be billed with W3620
Neither code can be billed with the other
- V2400: Posterior decompression with fusion (thoracic region) including spinal cord monitoring
- V2402: Posterior decompression (thoracic region) including spinal cord monitoring
- V2510: Endoscopic discectomy and/or decompression (transforaminal) - lumbar region
- W0330: Fusion of first metatarsophalangeal joint - unilateral
- W0380: Fusion of first metatarsophalangeal joint - bilateral
- W0640: Total excision of sesamoid bone
- W0700: Excision of ectopic bone
- W0950: Radical clearance of sarcoma of trunk or limbs, +/- amputation or insertion of prosthesis
- W0960: Excision of benign tumour of bone with bone grafting
- W1040: Osteotomy of short bone of foot (excluding hallux valgus and including internal fixation)
- W1080: Osteotomy of long bone, +/- fixation (including graft)
- W2700: Fixation of epiphysis (including epiphysiodesis, correction of angular deformity)
- W2702: Epiphysiolysis (e.g. Langenskiold procedure)
- W3622: Needle biopsy of bone as sole procedure
- W3650: Diagnostic aspiration and trephine biopsy of bone marrow, including analysis
- W5700: Excision arthroplasty of first metatarsophalangeal joint with prosthetic implantation or interpositional arthroplasty - unilateral
- W5701: Excision arthroplasty of first metatarsophalangeal joint with prosthetic implantation or interpositional arthroplasty - bilateral
- W5710: Excision arthroplasty of first metatarsophalangeal joint (eg Keller, Bonney-Kessel procedures) including cheilectomy - unilateral
- W5780: Excision arthroplasty of first metatarsophalangeal joint (eg Keller, Bonney-Kessel procedures) including cheilectomy - bilateral
- V2560: Decompression for central spinal stenosis (1 or 2 levels)
- W3651: Diagnostic aspiration of bone marrow
- W3652: Trephine biopsy of bone marrow
- V3720: Posterior fusion +/- instrumentation - cervical region (1 or 2 levels) including spinal cord monitoring
- V2200: Posterior decompression +/- foraminotomy - cervical region (1 or 2 levels)
- V2540: Posterior excision of disc prolapse (including microdiscectomy +/- decompression) - lumbar region (1 or 2 levels)
- V2542: Posterior excision of disc prolapse with undercutting facetectomy +/- decompression - lumbar region (1 or 2 levels)
- V3340: Primary anterior discectomy, decompression and anterior fusion +/- instrumentation - lumbar region (1 or 2 levels) including spinal cord monitoring
- W7980: Metatarsal osteotomy (eg Scarf) for hallux valgus, +/- internal fixation +/- soft tissue correction - bilateral
- V2500: Primary posterior fusion +/- decompression +/- discectomy - lumbar region (1 or 2 levels) including spinal cord monitoring
- V2562: Decompression for central spinal stenosis (3 or more levels)
- W0390: Inter articular resurfacing arthroplasty with implant of metatarsophalangeal joint
- W1800: Drainage/debridement of bone(s) (including sequestrectomy for osteomyelitis)
- W0850: Partial excision of bone (including exostoses)
- W7910: Metatarsal osteotomy (e.g. Scarf) for hallux vagus, +/- internal fixation +/- soft tissue correction - unilateral
W3620 can't be billed with
- V3721: Posterior fusion +/- instrumentation - cervical region (3 or more levels) including spinal cord monitoring
- V2201: Posterior decompression +/- foraminotomy - cervical region (3 or more levels)
- V2501: Primary posterior fusion +/- decompression +/- discectomy - lumbar region (3 or more levels) including spinal cord monitoring
- V2541: Posterior excision of disc prolapse (including microdiscectomy +/- decompression) - lumbar region (3 or more levels)
- V2546: Posterior excision of disc prolapse with undercutting facetectomy +/- decompression - lumbar region (3 or more levels)
- V3341: Primary anterior discectomy, decompression and anterior fusion +/- instrumentation - lumbar region (3 or more levels) including spinal cord monitoring
- W0961: Radical clearance of benign bone tumour with reconstruction +/- insertion of prosthesis
AXA Health also lists these codes as unacceptable combinations (33)
- W0960: Excision of benign tumour of bone with bone grafting
- V2500: Primary posterior fusion +/- decompression +/- discectomy - lumbar region (1 or 2 levels) including spinal cord monitoring
- W0950: Radical clearance of sarcoma of trunk or limbs, +/- amputation or insertion of prosthesis
- W5780: Excision arthroplasty of first metatarsophalangeal joint (eg Keller, Bonney-Kessel procedures) including cheilectomy - bilateral
- V2560: Decompression for central spinal stenosis (1 or 2 levels)
- W1800: Drainage/debridement of bone(s) (including sequestrectomy for osteomyelitis)
- W5701: Excision arthroplasty of first metatarsophalangeal joint with prosthetic implantation or interpositional arthroplasty - bilateral
- W7980: Metatarsal osteotomy (eg Scarf) for hallux valgus, +/- internal fixation +/- soft tissue correction - bilateral
- W3651: Diagnostic aspiration of bone marrow
- W1040: Osteotomy of short bone of foot (excluding hallux valgus and including internal fixation)
- V2542: Posterior excision of disc prolapse with undercutting facetectomy +/- decompression - lumbar region (1 or 2 levels)
- W0640: Total excision of sesamoid bone
- W0850: Partial excision of bone (including exostoses)
- W5710: Excision arthroplasty of first metatarsophalangeal joint (eg Keller, Bonney-Kessel procedures) including cheilectomy - unilateral
- V2562: Decompression for central spinal stenosis (3 or more levels)
- W3652: Trephine biopsy of bone marrow
- W5700: Excision arthroplasty of first metatarsophalangeal joint with prosthetic implantation or interpositional arthroplasty - unilateral
- W3622: Needle biopsy of bone as sole procedure
- W8603: Therapeutic arthroscopy of shoulder (as sole procedure)
- W2702: Epiphysiolysis (e.g. Langenskiold procedure)
- W7910: Metatarsal osteotomy (e.g. Scarf) for hallux vagus, +/- internal fixation +/- soft tissue correction - unilateral
- W3650: Diagnostic aspiration and trephine biopsy of bone marrow, including analysis
- W0700: Excision of ectopic bone
- W0330: Fusion of first metatarsophalangeal joint - unilateral
- W2700: Fixation of epiphysis (including epiphysiodesis, correction of angular deformity)
- V2540: Posterior excision of disc prolapse (including microdiscectomy +/- decompression) - lumbar region (1 or 2 levels)
- W0380: Fusion of first metatarsophalangeal joint - bilateral
- V3340: Primary anterior discectomy, decompression and anterior fusion +/- instrumentation - lumbar region (1 or 2 levels) including spinal cord monitoring
- V2402: Posterior decompression (thoracic region) including spinal cord monitoring
- V2400: Posterior decompression with fusion (thoracic region) including spinal cord monitoring
- V3720: Posterior fusion +/- instrumentation - cervical region (1 or 2 levels) including spinal cord monitoring
- V2200: Posterior decompression +/- foraminotomy - cervical region (1 or 2 levels)
- W1080: Osteotomy of long bone, +/- fixation (including graft)
Related codes
- W3622: Needle biopsy of bone as sole procedure
- W3652: Trephine biopsy of bone marrow
- W3650: Diagnostic aspiration and trephine biopsy of bone marrow, including analysis
- W1800: Drainage/debridement of bone(s) (including sequestrectomy for osteomyelitis)
- W0850: Partial excision of bone (including exostoses)
- W0700: Excision of ectopic bone
Frequently asked questions
What is the procedure code for open bone biopsy as sole procedure?
The procedure code is W3620: Open bone biopsy as sole procedure.
Which insurers list W3620?
W3620 is listed by Bupa, AXA Health, Vitality and WPA. Always confirm the code and cover with your insurer.
Can W3620 be billed with other procedures?
The coding rules say W3620 cannot be billed together with 41 other codes, including V2400 (Posterior decompression with fusion (thoracic region) including spinal cord monitoring), V2402 (Posterior decompression (thoracic region) including spinal cord monitoring), V2510 (Endoscopic discectomy and/or decompression (transforaminal) - lumbar region). See the full list above.
What does my procedure code mean?
For guidance only. Procedure codes and descriptions on this site are provided for general guidance only and are not a guarantee of insurance cover or payment. Always check the correct code with your surgeon's secretary and obtain authorisation from your insurer before treatment. Insurers shown are examples only. Other insurers are available, and each may use the same, similar or different codes and coding rules.
Codes and descriptions are for guidance only. Insurer listing and cover information is taken from each insurer's published schedule and is for guidance only: always confirm the code and cover with the insurer before treatment. This site is not affiliated with CCSD or any insurer. No fees are shown.
Last checked: 2026-10-01