EM Coding Alert

Question: Our practice is counseling a lot of Medicare beneficiaries about the importance of certain COVID-19 protocols. Can we bill for this, even though it’s just reiterating information available elsewhere?

Wisconsin Subscriber

Answer: Yes, according to CMS. The agency noted in a July 2020 press release that provider counseling to patients can occur at the time of their being tested for COVID-19 and include information on the “immediate need for isolation, even before results are available, the importance to inform their immediate household that they too should be tested for COVID-19, and the review of signs and symptoms and services available to them to aid in isolating at home.”

Providers are also expected to point out that if the patient does test positive for COVID-19, they should wear a mask at all times and be alert to a follow-up by public health authorities, who will want information necessary for contact tracing, including information on immediate household members and recent contacts.

“CMS will use existing E/M payment codes to reimburse providers who are eligible to bill CMS for counseling services no matter where a test is administered, including doctor’s offices, urgent care clinics, hospitals and community drive-thru or pharmacy testing sites,” CMS says.