Coding for Coronavirus: 6 Things To Know

Coding for Coronavirus

As the U.S. responds to a growing threat of the 2019 novel coronavirus, CMS and other organizations are clarifying how to code for testing and treatment of the disease.

Six things to know:

1. CMS created a new Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System code for providers and labs testing patients for SARS-CoV-2, or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

2. Providers can use the HCPCS code U0001 to test patients for coronavirus using the CDC’s 2019 novel coronavirus real-time RT-PCR Diagnostic Test Panel.

3. Medicare’s claims processing system will start accepting the code April 1 for dates of services Feb. 4 onward.

4. Audrey Howard, senior outsource services consultant with 3M Health Information Systems, reviewed about the current ICD-10-CM codes and how providers could use to code for the virus.

5. For classifying coronavirus not associated with SARS, providers could use:

  • Pneumonia due to coronavirus: J12.89 and B97.29
  • Sepsis due to coronavirus: A41.89 and B97.29
  • Other infection caused by coronavirus: B34.2
  • Contact with and (suspected) exposure to other viral communicable diseases: Z20.828

6. For classifying the SARS-associated coronavirus, providers could use:

  • Pneumonia due to SARS-associated coronavirus: J12.81
  • Sepsis due to SARS-associated coronavirus: A41.89 and B97.21

For More Information: https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/coding-for-coronavirus-6-things-to-know.html