Medicare has released HCPCS Level II codes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, covering services such as specimen collection and testing. Check with non-Medicare payers to confirm their policies on use and coverage of these codes.

As an example, two HCPCS Level II codes for COVID-19 testing (U0001 and U0002) had an implementation date of April 1, 2020, which is when Medicare claims processing systems were able to accept the codes. Dates of service for these codes can go back to Feb. 4, 2020.

Healthcare organizations also need to watch for changes to medical coding modifiers. A case in point is modifier CS Cost-sharing waived for specified covid-19 testing-related services that result in and order for or administration of a covid-19 test and/or used for cost-sharing waived preventive services furnished via telehealth in rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers during the covid-19 public health emergency. Medicare revised this descriptor for use when cost-sharing does not apply to certain COVID-19 testing-related services and certain telehealth services.

Medicare posts updates to HCPCS Level II codes and modifiers on the HCPCS Quarterly Update page. Annual updates are posted on the Alpha-Numeric HCPCS page.

Reference: AAPC