G8878 HCPCS Level II code: Sentinel lymph node biopsy procedure performed
G8878 is the HCPCS code for “Sentinel lymph node biopsy procedure performed” in CMS’s October 2026 release, in effect from Oct 1, 2026.
Official description
G8878Sentinel lymph node biopsy procedure performed
Short description: Sent lymph node biopsy
HCPCS · United States
Medicare details
The indicators CMS publishes with G8878 in its October 2026 file. They describe Medicare’s handling, not another payer’s.
- Medicare coverage
- Carrier judgment
- Medicare pricing
- Service not separately priced by Part B (e.g., services not covered, bundled, used by Part A only, etc.)
- Type of service
- Medical care
- BETOS category
- Specialist - psychiatry
- Added
- Jan 1, 2012
Where G8878 sits
- 1G codesProcedures and professional services
- 2Active code G8878Sentinel lymph node biopsy procedure performed
Source and release
- Data release
- HCPCS Level II · October 2026
- Effective date
- Oct 1, 2026
- Publisher
- CMS
This page is built from the HCPCS Level II catalog that Vero Codes reads when it suggests codes: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’s October 2026 release, imported from the publisher’s file and checked against it. The description, notes and structured data come from the same record.
Frequently asked questions
What does HCPCS code G8878 mean?
G8878 is the HCPCS code for “Sentinel lymph node biopsy procedure performed” in CMS’s HCPCS Level II October 2026 release.
Does Medicare cover G8878?
CMS lists G8878’s Medicare coverage as “Carrier judgment” and its pricing as “Service not separately priced by Part B (e.g., services not covered, bundled, used by Part A only, etc.)”. Coverage and payment still depend on the patient, the setting, the documentation and the payer.
Which HCPCS Level II release does this page use?
It uses CMS’s October 2026 release, in effect from Oct 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026. It is a reference: confirm the code against the current list and the payer’s rules before you submit it.
Codes beside G8878
All G codesG8872Excised tissue evaluated by imaging intraoperatively to confirm successful inclusion of targeted lesionG8873Patients with needle localization specimens which are not amenable to intraoperative imaging such as mri needle wire localization, or targets which are tentatively identified on…G8874Excised tissue not evaluated by imaging intraoperatively to confirm successful inclusion of targeted lesionG8875Clinician diagnosed breast cancer preoperatively by a minimally invasive biopsy methodG8876Documentation of reason(s) for not performing minimally invasive biopsy to diagnose breast cancer preoperatively (e.g., lesion too close to skin, implant, chest wall, etc.…G8877Clinician did not attempt to achieve the diagnosis of breast cancer preoperatively by a minimally invasive biopsy method, reason not givenG8879Clinically node negative (t1n0m0 or t2n0m0) invasive breast cancerG8880Documentation of reason(s) sentinel lymph node biopsy not performed (e.g., reasons could include but not limited to; non-invasive cancer, incidental discovery of breast cancer on…G8881Stage of breast cancer is greater than t1n0m0 or t2n0m0G8882Sentinel lymph node biopsy procedure not performed, reason not givenG8883Biopsy results reviewed, communicated, tracked and documentedG8884Clinician documented reason that patient's biopsy results were not reviewed