Advocate is closely monitoring the fast-paced evolvement of COVID-19’s impact on all aspects of healthcare, including the revenue cycle. On March 18th, the CDC announced a new ICD-10 code for COVID-19 that will be effective 4/1/20, effectively making an unprecedented off cycle addition to the code set.

According to four cooperating parties (NCHS, AHIMA, AHA, and CMS) in the interim time period for patients seen on DOS prior to 4/1/20, an ICD-10-CM diagnosis code should first be assigned for the specific respiratory condition the patient has developed (such as pneumonia, acute bronchitis, or lower respiratory infection, not otherwise specified). Code B97.29, other coronavirus as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere, should be assigned as an additional diagnosis code for confirmed COVID-19 cases. It is important to note that this code should only be assigned when COVID-19 has been confirmed, not when COVID-19 is merely suspected.

In addition to the new diagnosis code, diagnostic laboratories will be able to bill two new HCPCS codes related to COVID-19 testing, while the AMA is fast-tracking development of a new Category I CPT code as well.

Please see the attached full announcement from the CDC.

Best,

Jennifer Bash

Director of Coding Education