Public health labs pick up the pace on coronavirus testing as pandemic grows

Why This Topic Matters

The piece ties together testing capacity growth, public health response, and the introduction of new laboratory test reporting codes that affected claims and tracking during the early COVID-19 period.

Article Sections

1. National testing activity and public health laboratory expansion

   This section discusses the growth of public health laboratory testing across the United States and the broader context of the early COVID-19 response. It also references national testing activity and distribution of testing capacity.

2. CMS laboratory testing code updates

   This section covers Medicare-related coding updates issued by CMS for coronavirus laboratory testing and the timing of claims system acceptance. It places the update in the context of pandemic-era billing and reporting.

3. AMA laboratory testing code update

   This section notes a separate AMA coding update related to COVID-19 laboratory testing. It identifies the professional society action as part of the evolving early testing landscape.

4. Testing tracker and source note

   This section points to a data display summarizing specimen testing activity and includes a source attribution. It serves as supporting context for the article’s discussion of testing volume.