Latest and Greatest 2022 COVID-19 Code Updates

On December 8, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared, “… December 7, 1941 – a day that will live in infamy….” when the USA was suddenly attacked by Japan. Many died from the attack itself and the ensuing world war into which America was thrust. On March 11, 2020, WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic (an infectious disease that has spread, in this case, worldwide.) One has to almost wonder if, years from now, March 11, 2020 could be likened to a “day of infamy” based on the resulting years-long affect COVID-19 has had on our world. The entire world, in essence, has been attacked by COVID-19.

ICTV identified and named the virus “severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in February 2020. The virus is genetically related to the coronavirus blamed for the 2003 SARS outbreak.

WHO named this new disease COVID-19, using previously developed guidelines from the World Organization for Animal Health, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation.

Tracking the who, what, where, when, etc. of the COVID-19 pandemic has become an essential task in an effort to stop it in its tracks, but also to identify what can be done to prevent future, similar pandemics. One of the most important tools in tracking this pandemic has been through the ICD-10 coding and reporting system. Though of course it seems like an exaggeration to say that there have been daily changes to the ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS coding systems here in the USA, it’s almost not! New codes, along with coding advice, have bombarded healthcare providers/coders rapidly and furiously.

The ICD-10 Coordination and Maintenance Committee, as every coder knows, is a Federal interdepartmental committee tasked with maintaining ICD-10. Comprised by both the NCHS and CMS, the C&M Committee meets twice annually. NCHS has primary responsibility for ICD-10-CM, and CMS has primary responsibility for ICD-10-PCS.

At its meeting in September, 2021, the C&M Committee announced a joint decision between CMS and the CDC to update ICD-10 codes on a semi-annual basis; code updates will be implemented on April 1^st each year in addition to the October 1^st fiscal year updates. On November 22, 2021, CMS and the CDC revealed three (3) new COVID-19-related diagnosis codes and seven (7) ICD-10-PCS codes; the new codes will be effective with discharges/visits on/after April 1, 2022. It should be noted that none of the PCS codes are considered DRG operating room procedures.

The AMA has been busy updating and streamlining reporting of COVID-19 immunizations in its CPT® coding system. The CPT® Editorial Panel has sanctioned 28 new Category I codes, and revised parenthetical notes as well as guidelines, and updated Appendix Q. Working closely with CMS and the CDC, the new CPT® codes incorporate each of the four coronavirus vaccines in addition to administration codes for each vaccine and dose. The new codes will allow for better tracking, reporting, and data analysis.

The AMA has seemingly worked overtime to provide tools and other information that will help coder identify the proper CPT® codes to assign for COVID-19 vaccines. Other companies/organizations seem to have followed suit. Listed below are URLs for sites that coders can (and should!) review for further information for not only CPT® but also HCPCS and ICD-10 code assignments.

As a coder, when it comes to assigning CPT and ICD-10 codes for COVID-19 there’s only one thing you can truly count on: Just when you think you know it, they change it!

SUMMARY:

COVID-19 just seemingly doesn’t want to give up and go away. Tracking the virus and its mutation(s) is very important world-wide. New ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS codes have been created, some of which will be implemented for the first time beginning in April, 2022. New CPT codes associated with COVID-19 are also set for 2022 implementation. This blog addresses the new codes and provides coders with a variety of resources to stay on top of current and upcoming changes.

REFERENCES:

https://www.cdc.gov/museum/timeline/covid19.html

https://journal.ahima.org/get-the-2022-cpt-code-updates-for-covid-19-and-more/

https://revcycleintelligence.com/news/2022-cpt-code-set-released-streamlines-medical-coding-for-covid-19

CODING UPDATE RESOURCES

ICD-10-CM/PCS APRIL 1, 2022 UPDATES

     NOTE: None of these new diagnosis codes has CC/MCC status.

NOTE: None of these new procedure codes are identified as a DRG operating room procedure.