NOTE: All in-article links open in a new tab.

COVID-19 in the News September 8th - 15th

Published on 

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

 | Recovery Auditor 
 | Coding 
 | Documentation 

MMP remains committed to continuing to monitor for COVID-19 updates specific to our reader base. This week we highlight key updates spanning from September 8th through the 15th.

Resource Spotlight: COVID-19 Public Reporting Tip Sheets

CMS has created COVID-19 public reporting tip sheets to explain the strategy for CMS quality data exempted from public reporting due to COVID-19 and the impact on Compare website refreshes. Tip Sheets are available for:

 

September 8, 2020: AMA Announces New COVID-19 Related CPT Codes

The American Medical Association (AMA) announced in a Press Release that they have published an update to the CPT® Code Set which “includes two code additions for reporting medical services sparked by the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

New Category I CPT codes and long descriptors

  • CPT 99072: Additional supplies, materials, and clinical staff time over and above those usually included in an office visit or other non-facility service(s), when performed during a Public Health Emergency as defined by law, due to respiratory-transmitted infectious disease
  • 86413: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]) antibody, quantitative

The AMA notes that they have worked with “50 national medical societies and other organizations” to compile data regarding the costs involved in maintaining a safe medical office during the public health emergency and have provided this information to CMS “to inform payment of code 99072.”

Both codes are effective immediately. In addition to the Press Release you can find additional information about the two new codes, including a clinical example in a CPT® Assistance Special Edition: September Update.  

 

September 9, 2020: Expanding Access to COVID-19 Vaccines

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a Press Release highlighting the issuance of guidance under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) to expand access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines. “This guidance authorizes state-licensed pharmacists to order and administer, and state-licensed or registered pharmacy interns acting under the supervision of the qualified pharmacist to administer, COVID-19 vaccinations to persons ages 3 or older, subject to certain requirements.”

 

September 17 CDC Call: Testing and Treatment of 2020-2021 Seasonal Influenza During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The CDC is hosting a Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) Call on Thursday, September 17th from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm (ET). In the announcement, the CDC indicated the following four objectives that participants will be able to accomplish at the conclusion of the call:

  • Review influenza activity since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  1. Provide background on influenza tests and antivirals for influenza.
  2. Describe influenza testing guidance for patients with acute respiratory illness for the 2020-2021 season, including during community co-circulation of influenza viruses and SARS-CoV-2.
  3. Describe antiviral treatment recommendations for patients with suspected or confirmed influenza for the 2020-2021 season, including during community co-circulation of influenza viruses and SARS-CoV-2.

Additional information about the call and how to join in the session can be found on the CDC website at https://emergency.cdc.gov/coca/calls/2020/callinfo_091720.asp?deliveryName=USCDC_1052-DM37672.

 

September 8, 2020: CDC COVID Data Tracker – United States COVID-19 Cases

  • Total Cases: 6,287,362,
  • Total Deaths: 188,688
  • Deaths per 100,000 people: 57
  • Cases in last 7 days: 282, 919

September 14, 2020: CDC COVID Data Tracker – United States COVID-19 Cases

  • Total Cases: 6,503,030
  • Total Deaths: 193,705
  • Deaths per 100,000 people: 59
  • Cases in last 7 days: 241,814

Link to CDC COVID Data Tracker: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/?deliveryName=USCDC_2067-DM37553#cases

Article Author: Beth Cobb, RN, BSN, ACM, CCDS
Beth Cobb, RN, BSN, ACM, CCDS, is the Manager of Clinical Analytics at Medical Management Plus, Inc. Beth has over twenty-five years of experience in healthcare including eleven years in Case Management at a large multi-facility health system. In her current position, Beth is a principle writer for MMP’s Wednesday@One weekly e-newsletter, an active member of our HIPAA Compliance Committee, MMP’s Education Department Program Director and co-developer of MMP’s proprietary Compliance Protection Assessment Tool.

This material was compiled to share information.  MMP, Inc. is not offering legal advice. Every reasonable effort has been taken to ensure the information is accurate and useful.