CDC Releases Updated Coding & Reporting Guidelines For ICD-10 Code U07.1, COVID-19, Effective April 1 Through Sept 30

icd-10 code u07.1

Previously the CDC/NCHS provided the ICD-10-CM Official Coding Guideline Supplement for 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) coding, effective February 20, 2020. With the confirmation that the U07.1 code is implemented April 1, 2020, additions to the Official Coding and Reporting Guidelines were released to accompany the new code. These Guidelines appear in the Chapter 1 guidelines for Infectious Disease, and Chapter 15 for Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Puerperium, and are included in this article. The Official Coding and Reporting Guidelines are effective April 1, 2020, through September 30, 2020 (CDC/NCHS, 2020).

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Selecting the Right COVID-19 Code: Should You Use CPT or HCPCS?

COVID-19 Code

On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a declaration of the COVID-19 as a global pandemic. Two days later, the AMA announced the development of a specific code for laboratory testing for the coronavirus, code 87635 (AMA, 2020). The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released two new HCPCS codes for coronavirus testing for Medicare claims. The reporting for COVID-19 testing is dependent on the payer, either an HCPCS or CPT code should be used; there should not be more than one COVID-19 testing code on a given claim.

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New COVID-19 MS-DRG Assignment, Effective April 1

ms-drg v37

ICD-10-CM code U07.1 COVID-19 will be in effect as of April 1 in the US, which was pushed up from the normal effective date of October 1 for new codes. The reasoning for this unprecedented change is for the urgent need of immediate data collection. CMS has released a new update on 3/23/2020: “The ICD-10 MCE Version 37.1 R1 uses edits for the ICD-10 codes reported to validate correct coding on claims for discharges on or after April 1, 2020″ (2020). The ICD-10 MS-DRG Grouper software package to accommodate this new code, Version 37.1 R1, is effective for discharges on or after April 1, 2020.

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

Covid-19 coding

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 being fast-tracked to allow for the urgent need of immediate data collection. Interim coding guidelines from the CDC are still to be used 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.

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Coding for Coronavirus Outbreak: Interim Guidance from the CDC

CDC Coronavirus coding guidelines

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020 (CDC, 2020). As a result of the public health emergency, the document, “Announcement New ICD-10-CM Code 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19),” was released to provide guidance on coding this virus.

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