Knowledge Base Article

MLN Matter Article MM12175 was released March 9th and highlights changes in related CR12175 that have an effective date of April 1, 2021 and an implementation date of April 5, 2021. Following is a list of changes effective April 1st along with what you need to know:

Revised APC Assignments for Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 CPT Administration Codes - What you need to know:

The APC assignments for the administration codes are being reassigned.

• CPT codes 0001A (Pfizer Administration/Immunization code – first dose) and 0011A (Moderna Administration/Immunization code – first dose) from APC 1492 to APC 9397, and
• CPT codes 0002A (Pfizer Administration/Immunization code – second dose) and 0012A (Moderna Administration/Immunization code – second dose) from APC 1493 to APC 9398.

You will find a link to Table 1 of CR 12175 that lists the APC titles for the two new COVID-19 vaccine administration codes in this article.

Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine and Vaccine Administration Code – What you need to know:

The American Medical Association (AMA) released 2 new CPT codes associated with this vaccine:

• CPT code 91303 – vaccine product code, and
• CPT cod 0031A – Administration/Immunization code.

The FDA issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for this vaccine on February 27, 2021.

New Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Product Administration Codes – What you need to know:

Following is a list of new HCPCS codes for therapies that have been granted a EUA by the FDA and the effective date for the codes:

• M0239 and Q0239 established effective November 9, 2020 for bamlanivimab,
• M0243 and Q0243 established effective November 21, 2020 for casirivimab and imdevimab,
• M0245 and Q0245 established effective February 9, 2021 for bamlanivimab and etesevimab administered together.

The MLN article provides detail regarding payment for a monoclonal antibody product.

CPT Proprietary Laboratory Analyses (PLA) Coding Change Effective April 1, 2021 – What you need to know:

Six new PLA codes have been established by the AMA CPT Editorial Panel with an effective date of April 1, 2021. This article provides a link to the table of new codes, which includes the code, long descriptor of the code and the OPPS Status Indicator (SI) for each code.

New HCPCS Codes – What you need to know:

The following two new HCPCS codes were established and are effective April 1, 2021:

• HCPCS code C9776: describes the application of intraoperative near-infrared fluorescence imaging using indocyanine green on the extrahepatic ducts. The administration of this is associated with laparscopy cholecystectomy, and
• HCPCS code C9777: describes the technology associated with esophageal mucosal integrity testing by Electrical Impedance.

Drugs, Biologicals, and Radiopharmaceuticals – What you need to know:

• Three new HCPCS codes have been created and are effective April 1, 2021 for reporting drugs and biologicals in the hospital outpatient setting where there was no specific code available.
• C9074 – Injection, lumasiran, 0.5 mg (Status Indicator G and APC 9407),
• J7212 – Factor viia (antihemophilic factor, recombinant)-jncw (sevenfact), 1 microgram (Status Indicator G and APC 9395), and
• Q5122 – Injection, pegfilgrastim-apgf, biosimilar, (nyvepria), 0.5 mg (Status Indicator G and APC 9406).
• 10 HCPCS codes will have their pass-through status end on March 31, 2021. Table 11 of CR 12175 lists these codes and can be linked to from the MLN article. Effective April 1, 2021, the status indicator for all 10 HCPCS codes will change from G to K.
• Seven new drug, biological, and radiopharmaceutical HCPCS codes have been established with an effective date of April 1, 2021. These codes are listed in Table 12 of CR 12175.
• Two drug, biological, and radiopharmaceutical HCPCS codes will be deleted April 1, 2021:
• J7333 – Hyaluronan or derivative, visco-3, for intra-articular injection, per dose, and
• J7401 – Mometasone furoate sinus implant, 10 micrograms.
• HCPCS code Q5122 (injection, pegfilgrasim-apgf, biosimilar, (Nyveprio), 0.5 mg) status indicator for January 1, 2021 through March 31, 2021 will be changed retroactively from E2 to K in the April I/OCE.

Drugs and Biologicals with Payments Based on Average Sale Price (ASP)

“Effective April 1, 2021, payment rates for many drugs and biologicals will change from the values published in the CY 2021 OPPS/ASC final rule with comment period as a result of the new ASP calculations based on sales price submissions from the third quarter of CY 2020. In cases where adjustments to payment rates are necessary, they will be incorporated into the April 2021 Fiscal Intermediary Shared System (FISS) release. We are not publishing updated payment rates in this CR implementing the April 2021 OPPS update. However, the updated payment rates effective April 1, 2021, are in the April 2021 update of the OPPS Addendums A and B.”

Note, this MLN article also includes additional changes to specific HCPCS codes (i.e. changes to the long descriptor of a code and status indicator changes/corrections). I encourage key stakeholders in your facility to read MLN MM12175 and Change Request 12175.