Coronavirus has almost killed more than 10,000 people in Italy and now soon USA has become its main target. The death cases has crossed 3000 now due to COVID-19 cases. Medicare has now removed some restriction to help and treat the coronavirus cases immediately. At a time, when social distancing is among the major measures used to fight COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth is stepping-up as a key technology for safe and efficient communications.
Telehealth services has suddenly come to rescue during medical health emergency. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lifted Medicare restrictions on the use of telehealth services during the COVID-19 emergency.
AMA kicked off a virtual panel discussion on telemedicine and COVID-19 where clinicians can give their input and share experiences.
Effective March 6 and throughout the national public health emergency, Medicare will pay physicians for telehealth services at the same rate as in-person visits for all diagnoses, not just services related to COVID-19.
ICD 10 codes for confirmed Covid 19 cases
Description of Telehealth services CPT code 99441, 99442 & 99443
Telephone or Telehealth services are non-face-to-face encounters originating from the established patient for evaluation or management of a problem provided by a qualified clinician. The problem may not be related to an E/M encounter that occurred within the previous seven days nor can the problem lead to an E/M encounter or other service within the following 24 hours or next available in-office appointment opening. Use CPT code 99441 for services lasting five to 10 minutes; CPT code 99442 for services lasting 11 to 20 minutes; and 99443 for calls lasting 21 to 30 minutes.
Scenario 1: Patient comes to office for E/M visit, is tested for COVID-19 during the visit
| Who is performing | Physician/QHP | |
| Applicable CPT Codes | 99201-99205 (New Patient) 99212-99215 (Established Patient) | |
| Applicable ICD-10 codes | Possible exposure to COVID-19 Z03.818 Actual exposure to COVID-19 Z20.828 | |
| Place of Service (POS) | 11 Physician Office | |
| Who is performing | Clinical staff (e.g., RN/LPN/MA) | |
| Applicable CPT Codes | Included in E/M | |
| Place of Service (POS) | NA | |
| Who is performing | Laboratory |
| Applicable CPT Codes | 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 |
| Place of Service (POS) | 11 Physician office 19 Off Campus Outpatient Hospital 22 On Campus Outpatient Hospital 81 Independent Laboratory |
Scenario 2: Patient comes to office for E/M visit re: COVID-19 and is directed to a testing site
| Who is performing | Physician/QHP |
| Applicable CPT Codes | 99201-99205 (New Patient) 99212-99215 (Established Patient) |
| Applicable ICD-10 codes | Possible exposure to COVID-19 Z03.818 Actual exposure to COVID-19 Z20.828 |
| Place of Service (POS) | 11 Physician Office |
| Who is performing | Testing Site |
| Applicable CPT Codes | 99001 Handling and/or conveyance of specimen for transfer from the patient in other than an office to a laboratory (distance may be indicated) |
| Place of Service (POS) | 15 Mobile Unit 17 Walk-in Retail Health Clinic 20 Urgent Care Facility 23 Emergency Room Hospital |
| Who is performing | Laboratory |
| Applicable CPT Codes | 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 |
| Place of Service (POS) | 11 Physician office 19 Off Campus Outpatient Hospital 22 On Campus Outpatient Hospital 81 Independent Laboratory |
There are around 11 scenarios in this special coding advice released by AMA. Below is the link for this document.
https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/2020-03/covid-19-coding-advice.pdf
References:
https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/digital/ama-quick-guide-telemedicine-practice
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