AMA CPT® Assistant - 2021 Issue 5 (May)
CPT 2020 and 2021 COVID-19 Tests and Vaccines Codes: A Summary (May 2021)
May 2021 pages 3-7 CPT 2020 and 2021 COVID-19 Tests and Vaccines Codes: A Summary Since the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]) was declared a global pandemic, medical science has grappled to address the multiple, complex health care issues that have resulted from this crisis. From the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) Editorial Panel (the Panel) and the CPT code set perspective, this meant the rapid development and establishment of new codes and a new coding structure to report: antibody and other immunological testing; innovative laboratory testing services that differentiate the novel coronavirus...
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Article Overview
This article reviews CPT coding updates related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including laboratory testing, vaccine products, vaccine administration, and a special service code tied to public health emergency circumstances. It is aimed at coders, clinicians, and billing staff who need a broad overview of how the CPT Editorial Panel responded to COVID-19-related coding needs during 2020 and early 2021. The article also points readers to CPT guidance materials and an appendix-based reference structure used to organize the vaccine information.
Why This Topic Matters
It helps readers understand which categories of CPT content changed during the pandemic and where to find the related vaccine and testing references within CPT resources.
Article Sections
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May 2021 pages 3-7
Introductory context for the article and a high-level overview of the CPT Editorial Panel’s COVID-19 coding response. This section frames the types of coding updates covered in the summary.
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COVID-19 Laboratory Test Codes
An overview of laboratory-related CPT coding updates for COVID-19 testing. The section describes broad testing categories and how the article organizes the established codes.
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Vaccines, Toxoids
A summary of CPT vaccine and immunization administration updates related to COVID-19 vaccines. This section also discusses the appendix-based reference framework and the general structure of the vaccine coding updates.
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Immunization Administration for Vaccines/Toxoids
General guidance on reporting COVID-19 vaccine administration and how administration codes relate to vaccine products and dosing schedules. The section also addresses related CPT guidance notes and references.
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Special Services, Procedures, and Reports
A brief discussion of an additional CPT code related to services provided during a public health emergency. This section places the code in the context of office and non-facility services.
What You Will Learn
- How CPT organized COVID-19-related testing and vaccine coding updates during 2020 and 2021.
- What broad categories of laboratory test codes were added for COVID-19.
- How vaccine product and administration coding was structured in the CPT appendix reference materials.
- What general types of guidance accompanied the COVID-19 code updates.
- Which CPT section includes a special service code tied to public health emergency circumstances.
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Billing staff
- Physicians and other qualified health care professionals
- Compliance teams
- Practice managers
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
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