NEW CPT 99072 CPT 86413 during covid19 pandemic

NEW CPT Code 99072 and CPT Code 86413 DURING COVID19 PANDEMIC 
These new CPT codes address advancing understanding of COVID-19

These 2 new CPT Codes 99072 and 86413 were published on September 8th 2020 and are effective immediately.

Let's describe these 2 new CPT Codes.

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CPT Code 99072     Additional supplies, materials, and clinical staff time over and above those usually included in an office visit or other non-facility service(s), when performed during a Public Health Emergency as defined by law, due to respiratory-transmitted infectious disease

Take Note:  This new code 99072 is reported only during a PHE (Public Health Emergency) and only for additional items required to support a safe in-person provision of evaluation, treatment, or procedural service(s). 

CPT Code 86413     Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]) antibody, quantitative

According to the AMA:
"The first addition, CPT code 99072, was approved in response to sweeping measures adopted by medical practices and health care organizations to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), while safely providing patients with access to high-quality care during in-person interactions with health care professionals. The additional supplies and clinical staff time to perform safety protocols described by code 99072 allow for the provision of evaluation, treatment or procedural services during a public health emergency in a setting where extra precautions are taken to ensure the safety of patients as well as health care professionals. The AMA/Specialty Society RVS Update Committee (RUC) worked with 50 national medical specialty societies and other organizations over the summer to collect data on the costs of maintaining safe medical offices during the public health emergency and submitted recommendations today to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to inform payment of code 99072."
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"The second addition, CPT code 86413, was approved in response to the development of laboratory tests that provide quantitative measurements of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, as opposed to a qualitative assessment (positive/negative) of SAR-CoV-2 antibodies provided by laboratory tests reported by other CPT codes. By measuring antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the tests reported by 86413 can investigate a person’s adaptive immune response to the virus and help access the effectiveness of treatments used against the infection."

Must be reported only once per in-person! (read more below)

​Code 99072 is to be reported only once per in-person patient encounter per provider identification number (PIN), regardless of the number of services rendered at that encounter. In the instance in which the noted clinical staff activities are performed by a physician or other qualified health care professional (eg, in practice environments without clinical staff or a shortage of available staff), the activity requirements of this code would be considered as having been met; however, the time spent should not be counted in any other time-based visit or service reported during the same encounter.

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CPT Guidelines, Q&A from the American Medical Association:

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Understanding PHE or Public Health Emergency in coordination with CPT Code 99072

Question: Code 99072 is stated as being applicable “during a PHE.” What information should be used to verify when a PHE is in effect?
Answer: A PHE is in effect when declared by law by the officially designated relevant public health authority(ies).

Understanding Patient Encounters Type for the determination of CPT Code 99072

Question: For what type of patient encounters or services should code 99072 be reported?
Answer: Code 99072 may be reported with an in-person patient encounter for an office visit or other non-facility service, in which the implemented guidelines related to mitigating the transmission of the respiratory disease for which the PHE was declared are required. Use of this code is not dependent on a specific patient diagnosis. For a list of POS codes with facility/non-facility designations that are available in the Medicare Claims Processing Manual, visit https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/place-of-service-codes.

​Understanding Documentation Requirements when reporting CPT Code 99072

Question: What documentation is required to report code 99072?
Answer: Given that code 99072 may only be reported during a PHE, one would not report this code in conjunction with an evaluation and management (E/M) service or procedure when a PHE is not in effect. Therefore, code 99072 is reported justifiably only when health and safety conditions applicable to a PHE require the type of supplies and additional clinical staff time explained in the code descriptor. 
Documentation requirements may vary among third-party payers and insurers; therefore, they should be contacted to determine their specifications.

How about CPT Code 99072 with CPT Code 99070?

Question: May code 99072 be reported with code 99070?
Answer: Yes, code 99072 may be reported with code 99070 when the requirements for both codes have been met. Note that eligibility for payment, as well as coverage policy, is determined by each individual insurer or third-party payer.

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Reader's QUESTION - how much are you going to be reimbursed for these 2 new codes?
ANSWER: I have not seen any fee schedule but I suggest you ask your insurance payers and local Medicare Part B contractor.

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Reference sources: ​https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-announces-new-cpt-codes-covid-19-advancements-expand
https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/2020-09/cpt-assistant-guide-coronavirus-september-2020.pdf
CPT Assistant September 2020 Special Addition
CPT is a trademark and owned by the American Medical Association.

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