New CPT code to help radiology practices report additional costs stemming from COVID care

The American Medical Association added a new Current Procedural Terminology code this week to help radiology and other physician practices report added expenses stemming from COVID-19 care.

Approved for immediate use beginning Sept. 8, code 99072 covers any additional supplies, materials or clinical staff time, above the typical office or other visit, during the pandemic. This includes face masks, cleaning supplies, symptom checks, or pre-visit instructions.

“This update is the latest in a series of modifications to the CPT codes set to meet the needs of the healthcare industry as medical advancements expand the fight against COVID-19,” AMA President Susan Bailey, MD, said in a statement.

The American College of Radiology alerted its members to the new code in a update shared Thursday. ACR cautioned providers to only report 99072 once per patient encounter each day, regardless of how many services they delivered. Practices can use the code during a public health emergency when a physician or other healthcare pro performed the aforementioned services “in lieu of clinical staff.”

AMA said it worked with 50 different specialty societies and other orgs over the summer to collect data on the cost of such services amid the COVID crisis. It submitted the resulting recommendations to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services this week to inform payment, the association noted Tuesday.

Meanwhile, AMA released a second addition this week—CPT code 86413—that covers the development of lab tests which provide quantitative measurements of coronavirus antibodies.

ACR reminded members that the new code descriptors must be manually uploaded into the electronic medical record. You can find the long and short versions of those descriptions in this AMA update here.