CPT 58970 — Oocyte Retrieval (Egg Retrieval)

What CPT 58970 Covers and When to Bill It

CPT 58970 describes follicle puncture for oocyte retrieval — the transvaginal ultrasound-guided aspiration of ovarian follicles to collect mature oocytes during an IVF cycle. The procedure is performed under IV sedation or general anesthesia. The code covers the aspiration itself regardless of the number of follicles punctured or eggs retrieved. One follicle and thirty follicles are both reported with a single unit of 58970.

58970 is billed on the date the egg retrieval procedure is performed, not on the date the stimulation cycle started. If retrieval occurs on a different calendar date than originally planned due to trigger timing, the authorization must cover the actual retrieval date. Confirm authorization dates remain valid before any schedule change.

Codes That Bill Alongside CPT 58970

• CPT 76948 — Ultrasonic guidance for aspiration of ova: Bill separately when transvaginal ultrasound guidance is performed and interpreted by the same provider. 76948 requires a separately documented radiology report.
• Anesthesia CPT codes: Anesthesia is billed by the anesthesia provider under their own NPI — never bundled into the 58970 claim. If your practice employs the anesthesiologist, bill anesthesia separately under that provider.
• S4011 — IVF with embryo transfer (S code for mandate states): Several state mandate payers require S codes alongside CPT codes for cycle tracking. S4011 represents a complete fresh IVF cycle with embryo transfer.
• S4013 — IVF cycle with cryopreservation of all embryos (freeze-all): Use S4013 instead of S4011 when all embryos are frozen and no fresh transfer occurs in the stimulation cycle.

Documentation Requirements for a Clean 58970 Claim

• Prior authorization number and effective dates — authorization must cover the actual retrieval date of service
• Procedure note documenting retrieval technique, ultrasound guidance, and number of follicles aspirated
• Anesthesia consent and monitoring documentation if sedation is administered by the same practice
• Number of oocytes retrieved documented in the embryology lab report — payers may request this during audit
• ICD-10 primary diagnosis code matching the authorization approval (N97.x or Z31.61)

CPT 58970 Payer Coverage Summary

Common Coding Errors to Avoid

• Do not report 58970 and 58976 on the same date of service. Frozen embryo transfer is performed in a separate cycle.
• Do not bundle 76948 into 58970. Ultrasound guidance is separately billable when documented with a written radiology report.
• Do not report 58970 multiple times for multiple follicles. One unit covers the entire retrieval regardless of oocyte yield.
• Confirm 58970 is not subject to a global period that bundles retrieval with subsequent lab services in your contracted rate.