CMS is adjusting its payment policy for COVID-19 laboratory tests starting in Jan 1, 2021 in order to incentivize high throughput COVID-19 laboratory test results and ensure turnaround of results are provided in a clinically meaningful timeframe.

Over 490 new ICD-10-CM code changes were announced by the CDC on July 1, 2020, effective October 1,2020. The updated ICD-10-CM coding guidelines outline how diseases related to vaping and COVID-19 should be properly coded.

The American Dental Association® (ADA) will add 28 new CDT codes effective January 1, 2021, along with seven (7) code revisions, four (4) code deletions and 22 editorial changes. Among the new CDT code additions for 2021 are two (2) new coronavirus testing codes and a code related to counseling for the control and prevention of adverse oral, behavioral, and systemic health effects associated with high-risk substance use.

In response to the Novel Coronavirus pandemic, a new ICD-10-CM code was moved up from previous posted effective date of October 1, 2020. The new ICD-10-CM diagnosis code, U07.1, is effective April 1, 2020.

Most EHR systems have drop-down menus in which ICD-10 code choices or search returns are in numerical order where say the fifth digit of 0 – indicating unspecified – is the first return or choice, while the more specific choices are farther down the list. Physicians are often picking the first code that appears in the drop-down menu therefore claims may be at risk due to continuous submission of unspecified diagnoses.