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.