Very Brief Blog; CMS Releases 6-page Fact Sheet of COVID Special Lab Rules

Since March, CMS has issued new codes, rules, or other updates almost weekly.   I've covered these on a rolling basis, most recently, an 80-page new Interim Final Rulemaking (IFR) in the Federal Register (released April 30, publication May 8) - here.

CMS has a six-page online update of COVID rules through April 30: online here.

See also a two-page CMS listing of lab codes that can be ordered by any "health professional" (not just the "physician who is treating the patient") - here.  Note that the listing of lab codes includes CMS and AMA CPT COVID codes, including serology, but also influenza and RSV-containing codes, as long as they are ordered along with at least one COVID test and are part of the differential diagnosis of COVID.  This list includes the circa-$400 test, 87633, respiratory panel, 12-25 targets, which includes influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus.

screen shot only; see six page PDF at link in text