Billing code
Z771A — Aspiration Biopsy, Thyroid Gland Or Nodule Fine Needle Method
Thyroid fine needle biopsy
Bill for a fine needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid gland or a thyroid nodule.
Watch for: If the decision to do it was made at an earlier visit, only a partial or minor assessment is payable before it that day.
| Provider | Specialist | Assistant | Anaesthetist | Non-anaesthetist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $38.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
- Code
- Z771A
- Description
- Aspiration Biopsy, Thyroid Gland Or Nodule Fine Needle Method
- FHO+ basket
- Not in the FHO+ base rate basket (Schedule 2 or 2B).
- Effective date
- Apr 1, 2025
- Termination date
- No end date
Explanation
Updated October 26, 2026
Fine needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid gland or a thyroid nodule.
What it covers
Z771 is a fine needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid gland or of a thyroid nodule (W1).
Simple aspiration of a thyroid cyst is Z726, a percutaneous silicone core needle biopsy is Z727, and a surgical biopsy of the thyroid is S787 (W1).
Billing rules
- A Z-code is an independent operative procedure (IOP), payable in addition to an assessment (GP4, SP4 §13).
- If you made the decision to do the procedure at a visit in the 12 months before, the only assessment payable that day before it is a partial assessment (specialist) or a minor assessment (family physician) (SP4 §13).
- If the decision-to-operate visit is the same day, no other consultation or assessment before the procedure that day is payable (SP4 §13).
- The visit where you decide to do the procedure (major pre-operative visit) is billed separately; the fee covers care until the first post-operative visit (SP1, SP2).
- Several IOPs at the same time by you: claim each in full, but pre- and post-operative care counts once (SP4 §13).
- No assistant or anaesthesia units are listed for this code (W1).
- Patients under 16 get an age premium of 10% to 30% (GP64).
Related codes: Z726, Z727, S787, S786, S790
Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Endocrine Surgical Procedures, Thyroid Gland, page W1; Surgical Preamble SP1–SP4.
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