Update: New ICD-10 Code For COVID-19 Effective April 1

Update: Coding Guidelines For COVID-19 Effective April 1

Do you want to learn how to apply the new 2022 ICD-10 COVID-19 codes? Sign up for our COVID-19 ICD-10 Coding Learning Path and find out how to code Coronavirus infections, symptoms, screening, post-COVID-19 condition, treatments and vaccines. The webinar provides an update to the FY2022 Official Coding Guidelines for COVID-19.

The United States will begin using code U07.1 COVID-19 as of April 1 – rather than the usual effective date for new codes of October 1. This new code is effective to allow for the urgent need of immediate data collection. Interim coding guidelines from the CDC are effective between now and the effective date (CDC, 2020). Review our previous article, “Coding for Coronavirus Outbreak: Interim Guidance from the CDC,” for additional information about code U07.1. CDC UPDATE 3/18/2020: “New ICD-10-CM code for 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), April 1, 2020.”

Donna Pickett, National Center for Health Statistics, Center for Disease Control released the COVID-19 code and April 1 effective date on March 18 at the Coordination and Maintenance Committee meeting. The meeting information included the code and notes. An addendum with the most up-to-date information is available on the CMS site soon.

At this time, we have the following information about the code and instructions. U07.1 is not a secondary diagnosis code. As noted, the addendum to the meeting minutes will include any updated information.