News - Billing & Coding for COVID-19

Latest Code Updates for Testing

CPT

• • 87635 - Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]), amplified probe technique. 

Earlier this month the American Medical Association announced the approval of a new CPT code to describe lab testing for COVID-19. This code is effective immediately and will help to efficiently report and track testing services related to COVID-19 and will streamline the reporting and reimbursement for this test in the United States.

See below to access the corresponding CPT Assistant Guide provided by the AMA:

Reporting Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Laboratory Testing

HCPCS

• • U0001 - Used for Lab test developed by the CDC for SARS-CoV-2

  • U0002 - Used for Lab test developed by other Entities for SARS-CoV-2/2019-nCoV (COVID-19)

Earlier in 2020, these HCPCS codes and the following ICD-10 diagnosis code were also created for coding & billing the tests associated with COVID-19.

You will need to follow your payer guidelines on what testing code to use.

ICD-10 - CM

• • U07.1 - 2019-nCoV Acute respiratory disease  

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