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New Code for Covid-99072
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10/8/2020 @ 8:51:00 AM
Post 1 of 6

Contributor: nmoore@wpfm.org

Does anyone know if we can/should use the Covid code 99072 for Medicare (straight and HMOs) and Medicaid (straight and HMOs)?  I know the commercials are starting to pay but I don't want to mess up the cost report as it all ready will be a challenge in 2020.

10/8/2020 @ 11:14:00 AM
Post 2 of 6

Contributor: Julie York, Marengo Family Medical Clinic

I would be interested in this, too. I can't see anywhere CMS has assigned a payment amount to this code, yet. Or an other payor. Are you seeing payments from other insurances?

Julie York
Clinic Billing Supervisor
Compass Memorial.org

10/8/2020 @ 12:09:00 PM
Post 3 of 6

Contributor: Marcus Conway, Northeast Louisiana Health Center

Neither CMS nor the Federal Employee Program (FEP) has announced its reimbursement policies for 99072 for Medicare Advantage or FEP members. however, payment will be considered "incident to per BlueCross and it will not be paid separately. I havent seen anything from any of the commercial insurance companies as of yet. That's all I got from what was said about the new code which became effective Oct 1

10/8/2020 @ 12:31:00 PM
Post 4 of 6

Contributor: Patty Harper, InQuiseek Consulting

For RHCs, this code will not reimburse anything over the AIR but it will increase the patient's cost share/coinsurance amount. Many clinics are using this code to track COVID related services but are not dropping them to any claims unless a commercial plan has made it reimbursable. This is a fee for service code to reimburse extra costs. Since RHCs are cost reimbursed the use of this code is not really applicable except as already mentioned.

Patty Harper, RHIA, CHTS-IM, CHTS-PW, CHCR
Healthcare Consultant/Principal
318-243-2687 (Cell)
866-855-0683 (Fax)

940 Ratcliff Street
Shreveport, LA 71104

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10/29/2020 @ 11:41:00 AM
Post 5 of 6

Contributor: Deb Bartel, Woodburn Pediatric Clinic

I would agree - utilization data on this code will eventually be valuable.  I wouldn't necessarily post a zero charge though; the point is to know how much extra it costs us these days due to COVID.  Here's my suggestion:

Figure out your extra PPE/cleaning supplies/ other COVID costs per visit (exclude stuff you DO get paid for), document how you arrived at this cost and post the charge to each in person visit.  If your system allows you to do it, automatically write it off after claims go out - heck, if they pay you anything:  Bonus!  You don't want it sitting on your A/R inflating your numbers but I believe it is important to track this.  I'm not sure how insurance companies, Medicare or Medicaid decide what their reimbursement should be for anything but without the ability to give firm numbers they'll never agree to either pay for this code or just increase office visit reimbursement because of it.

Just my two cents....and I'm super new to Rural Health but my former non Rural Health clinic began doing this in October using costs and patient counts from the past 5 months.  In my new clinic here we plan to implement it in November based on the past 5 months and potentially adjust the charge in January.  

Let me know if I'm way off base!  Deb Bartel, FACMPE  dbartel@woodburnpediatric.com 

10/29/2020 @ 11:45:00 AM
Post 6 of 6

Contributor: Deb Bartel, Woodburn Pediatric Clinic

I would agree - utilization data on this code will eventually be valuable.  I wouldn't necessarily post a zero charge though; the point is to know how much extra it costs us these days due to COVID.  Here's my suggestion:

Figure out your extra PPE/cleaning supplies/ other COVID costs per visit (exclude stuff you DO get paid for), document how you arrived at this cost and post the charge to each in person visit.  If your system allows you to do it, automatically write it off after claims go out - heck, if they pay you anything:  Bonus!  You don't want it sitting on your A/R inflating your numbers but I believe it is important to track this.  I'm not sure how insurance companies, Medicare or Medicaid decide what their reimbursement should be for anything but without the ability to give firm numbers they'll never agree to either pay for this code or just increase office visit reimbursement because of it.

Just my two cents....and I'm super new to Rural Health but my former non Rural Health clinic began doing this in October using costs and patient counts from the past 5 months.  In my new clinic here we plan to implement it in November based on the past 5 months and potentially adjust the charge in January.  

Let me know if I'm way off base!  Deb Bartel, FACMPE  dbartel@woodburnpediatric.com 


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