Diagnostic biopsy of skin, as an independent procedure
Therapeutic procedures · Group T8 — Surgical operations
| Benefit | Amount | Gap to fee |
|---|---|---|
| 85% | $53.20 | $9.35 |
| 75% | $46.95 | $15.60 |
Benefit amounts as published in the schedule, not recalculated.
Fee current from 1 Jul 2026.
(Anaes.) — anaesthesia may be claimed separately in association with this item.
If a shave biopsy turns out to be a definitive excision of the lesion, you may claim ONLY 30071 - you cannot bill an excision item for it, and every excision item in the 31356 to 31388 range expressly excludes shave excision. The aftercare period for 30071 is 2 days, not the 10 days that applies to skin excisions.
Explanatory notes · departmental guidance · 1
TN.8.7 Biopsy for Diagnostic Purposes - (Items 30071 to 30094 and 30820)
Needle aspiration biopsy attracts benefits on an attendance basis and not under item 30078.
Item 30071 (diagnostic biopsy of the skin) or 30072 (diagnostic biopsy of mucous membrane) should be used when a biopsy (including shave) of a lesion is required to confirm a diagnosis and would facilitate the appropriate management of that lesion. If the shave biopsy results in a definitive excision of the lesion, only 30071 or 30072 can be claimed.
Items 30071-30094 and 30820 require that the specimen be sent for pathological examination.
The aftercare period for item 30071 or 30072 is 2 days rather than the standard aftercare period for skin excision of 10 days.
More in Group T8 — Surgical operations
| Item number | 30071 |
|---|---|
| Category | 3 — Therapeutic procedures |
| Group | T8 — Surgical operations |
| Subheading | — |
| Item type | S (schedule code) |
| Fee type | N (normal) |
| In schedule since | 1 Dec 1991 |
| Fee current from | 1 Jul 2026 |
| GP scope | In scope |
As at 1 Aug 2026 · Shows what the schedule publishes. Not billing advice. · page built 15 Sep 2026