Knowledge Base Article

This week we highlight key updates spanning from January 12th through January 18th, 2021.

Resource Spotlight: AMA Resource – Find your COVID-19 Vaccine CPT® Codes

The AMA has created this resource “to help you determine the appropriate CPT code combination for the type and dose of vaccine that you are using.” You will be asked to answer questions on the left side of the screen regarding the vaccine manufacturer and dose being administered. Once you have done this the appropriate CPT code combinations will appear on the right side of the webpage.

January 4, 2021: FDA Communication - Risk of False COVID-19 Results with Curative SARS-CoV-2 Test

The FDA sent an Alert to patients and health care providers regarding the risk of false results, particularly false negative COVID-19 results with the Curative SARS-CoV-2 test. This communication goes on to provide important recommendations for health care providers, patients, and caregivers.

January 7, 2020: COVID-19 FAQs on Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Billing Document Updated

This now 166 page document added the following FAQ on January 7th:

“Question: How did CMS implement the increased payment under the IPPS for COVID-19 patients under the provisions of section 3710 of the CARES Act?

Answer: To implement this temporary statutory adjustment, the IPPS Pricer will apply an adjustment factor to increase the Medicare Severity-Diagnosis Related Group (MS-DRG) relative weight that would otherwise apply by 20 percent when determining IPPS operating payments (including the calculation of payments such as for disproportionate share hospitals (DSHs), indirect medical education (IME), outliers, new technologies, and low volume hospitals and the hospital specific rates for sole community hospitals (SCHs) and Medicare-dependent hospitals (MDHs)) for discharges of patients with a principal or secondary diagnosis of COVID-19. For additional information regarding which claims are eligible for the 20 percent increase in the MS-DRG weighting factor, please see the Medicare Learning Network (MLN) Matters article “New COVID-19 Policies for Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Hospitals, Long-Term Care Hospitals (LTCHs), and Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (IRFs) due to Provisions of the CARES Act” available on the CMS website at https://www.cms.gov/files/document/se20015.pdf.

Updated: 1/7/21”

January 11, 2021: New Web Platform for 1135 Waivers and Inquiries

In a January 11, 2021 memorandum to State Survey Agency Directors, CMS announced a new platform for submission of 1135 waiver requests and inquiries. They indicate in the memorandum summary that “with very limited exception, the new web system should be sued for all 1135 waiver requests and/or PHE-related inquiries submitted on or after January 11, 2021.” CMS is providing training on this new system on YouTube at CMS YouTube 1135 Waiver and Inquiry Web Training.

January 12, 2021: Negative COVID-19 Test Required for All Air Passengers Entering United States

The CDC Director signed an order on January 12, 2021 expanding the requirement for a negative COVID-19 test to all air passengers entering the United States. The CDC notes that “testing before and after travel is a critical layer to slow the introduction and spread of COVID-19. This strategy is consistent with the current phase of the pandemic and more efficiently protects the health of Americans.” The order will become effective on January 26, 2021.

January 14, 2021: Federal COVID-19 Testing Report: Data Insights from Six Federal Health Care Programs

The OIG released this Full Report and an Accompanying Release “that provides insights and data on the COVID-19 testing efforts of six federal health care programs from February 1, 2020, to August 31, 2020—the first seven months following the declaration of a public health emergency in the United States. Although this report does not represent a comprehensive view of the Federal Government’s testing efforts, it provides insights on the populations covered by a variety of federal health care programs. The insights summarized below are intended to help stakeholders—such as Congress; federal and state agencies; and health care entities—understand and plan for current and future response efforts.”

January 14, 2021: CDC Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) Call Announced: Treating Long COVID: Clinician Experience with Post-Acute COVID-19 Care

This call will be Thursday, January 28, 2021 from 2:00PM – 3:00 PM ET. “During this COCA Call, presenters will share their firsthand experiences with treating long COVID, focusing on the pulmonary, neurologic, and psychological aspects. They will also describe their experiences with establishing clinics that provide care for patients with these long-term effects.”

CDC COVID Data Tracker – United States COVID-19 Cases