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New HCPCS Codes for COVID-19 Laboratory Testing

 
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By:Jacqueline Thelian, CPC, CPC-I, CHCA, CPMA

 

 

Effective April 1, 2020 there are two new HCPCS codes for COVID-19 Laboratory testing.

  • U0001 CDC 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel

For tests developed only by the CDC (reporting allows CDC testing laboratories to test new patients and track new cases).

  • U0002 2019-nCoV Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2/2019-nCoV (COVID-19), any technique, multiple types or subtypes (includes all targets), non-CDC

For laboratories performing non-CDC testing.

As a reminder the CPT code for COVID-19 Laboratory which is effective as of March 13, 2020 is:

  • 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

As always different insurers may require reporting either a CPT® or a HCPCS code, so please check with your payers as to their preference. 

The ICD-10-CM code for COVID-19 effective April 1, 2020:

U07.1 COVID-19