CMS Launches New Billing Code for Coronavirus Testing

CMS announced last week that they developed a new billing code for providers and laboratories to test patients for the coronavirus, or SARS-CoV-2. 

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Healthcare providers who test patients for coronavirus using the new Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) will be able to bill for the specific test rather than using an unspecified code. This ensures better tracking of the public health response for this particular strain to stop the spread of the disease.  

HCPS is a standardized coding system that Medicare and other health insurers use to submit claims for services provided to patients, the announcement stated. 

The new code development furthers CMS’ efforts to ensure America’s healthcare facilities and clinical laboratories are prepared to respond to the 2019- Novel Coronavirus, named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization last week. 

Medicare claims will be able to accept the code on April 1st of this year for services on or after February 4, 2020. 

The world is focused on the outbreak of the coronavirus, which has affected 15 individuals in the United States as so far, with 60 under investigation as of yesterday.

Last week, Regenstrief Institute and SNOMED International announced that they joined the effort to support care teams globally by tracking SARS-COV-2 testing and COVID-19 cases, and extending support clinicians and researchers to address its containment. 

“With novel viruses that appear to be easily transmittable, such as the coronavirus, it is vitally important that all identified cases be reported quickly for public health tracking,” said Theresa Cullen, MD, MS, Regenstrief research scientist and global health expert with the Regenstrief Institute. 

Individually, these organizations have introduced new content to their respective products, a laboratory and health observations-oriented coding system in the case of LOINC, and a broad-spectrum clinical terminology in the case of SNOMED CT, the announcement stated. 

LOINC was created at Regenstrief Institute to facilitate interoperability in healthcare. 

The new content will be made available immediately to tackle the virus in an efficient manner. 

“The creation of the new COVID-19 and SARS CoV-2 codes and concepts from LOINC and SNOMED CT introduce the structure in coding needed for health systems internationally to manage the outbreak,” explained Don Sweete from SNOMED International.

Both Cullen and Sweete agreed that by gaining access to important data, health leaders worldwide will be able to engage in better analysis to inform their outbreak management approach. Both organizations will continue to update codes to reflect any changes and will work together to achieve better care management.