Category: Blog

New COVID-19 Testing Codes

New COVID-19 Testing Codes

During an emergency meeting in response to the COVID-19 crisis, the American Medical Association (AMA) convened the CPT  Editorial Panel to approve a new pair of Category 1 CPT codes. These two new codes are effective immediately, according to the AMA. “The new codes are intended for use as the industry standard for accurate reporting and […]
New CPT Resources Help Doctors

New CPT Resources Help Doctors Adapt to Shifting COVID-19 Demands

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced rapid changes on the way physician practices operate. To help doctors navigate the shifting landscape, the AMA has released guidance on issues related to the pandemic, including new Medicare policies, answers to patient concerns and, most recently, advice on coding for COVID-19 testing, treatment and telemedicine services. Resources include authoritative […]
COVID-19 Specimen Collection Codes

COVID-19 Specimen Collection Codes

Clinical diagnostic laboratories can identify specimen collection for COVID-19 testing using two new HCPCS Level II codes, effective March 1, 2020. Check Patient Location Before Coding Medicare posted these new COVID-19  specimen collection codes in a March 31, 2020, special edition MLN Connects and in a last-minute revision to the April 2020 HCPCS Level II […]
COVID-19 Coding_ Guidance On 11 Scenarios

COVID-19 Coding: AMA Provides Guidance On 11 Scenarios

The American Medical Association has published a COVID-19 coding scenario guide that includes a number of coding scenarios for physicians treating COVID-19 patients. The COVID-19 scenarios presented include: Patient comes to office for E/M visit, is tested for COVID-19 during the visit. Patient comes to office for E/M visit re: COVID-19 and is directed to […]
Non-essential Surgery Guidelines

COVID-19 Causes CMS to Issue Non-essential Surgery Guidelines

CMS wants all providers to cancel or postpone all low-acuity surgeries. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is limiting “all non-essential planned surgeries and procedures, including dental, until further notice,” according to statement the agency released March 18. This measure is designed to have a twofold effect: increase the amount of ventilators and […]
Regulations on SNF Waivers and Telehealth

COVID-19 Impacts Regulations on SNF Waivers and Telehealth

As with last week, RACmonitor asked Dr. Ronald Hirsch, vice president of R1 RCM, to summarize the most pertinent regulatory changes recently arising. The following is a transcript of his reporting today on Monitor Mondays. “First, thank you, everyone, for continuing to care for patients and continuing to take this pandemic seriously,” Dr. Ronald Hirsch […]