On September 8, 2020 the AMA released new CPT code 99072. This code was established to capture the cost of personal protective equipment (PPE), cleaning supplies and staffing currently required to stave off COVID-19. This code may be reported by a physician or any other qualified health care professional and must be used only during a Public Health Emergency (PHE). The current PHE, unless extended, is set to expire on October 25, 2020.
The official wording for the code is as follows:
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.
Additional requirements for using this code are:
No specific diagnosis code, such as U07.1, is required
99072 may be reported along with an E&M or procedure code even if the E&M or procedure is not COVID-19 related
99072 should only be reported once per in-person visit
Insurances have not yet released a fee schedule for this code, nor has Medicare announced whether they would pay for it. Check back frequently with your provider representatives to see if the commercial insurances you bill will be covering and reimbursing this code. Check with CMS and your local Medicaid programs for the same information. It will take the insurers some time to implement this. Still have some questions? Contact us today!
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