BCBS Anthem – Attention lab providers: COVID-19 update regarding reimbursement

Reimbursement changes to COVID-19 laboratory services codes for Commercial, and Medicare Advantage and Medicaid

Beginning with dates of service on or after May 12, 2023, representing the end of the COVID Public Health Emergency (PHE), or if extended, such later date, reimbursement for COVID-19 laboratory services codes will be reduced for laboratory providers contracted as Independent Laboratory (Ancillary) providers and participating in an Anthem Blue Cross (Anthem) independent laboratory provider network.

New COVID-19 laboratory service codes were implemented and reimbursed at rates to meet the needs of laboratory providers during the PHE. This notice is to inform you that reimbursement will be revised to Anthem’s standard reimbursement methodology for Independent laboratory providers for the following codes once the PHE has ended:

 

U0001	86328	87426	87811	0226U
U0002	86408	87428	0202U	0240U
U0003	86409	87635	0223U	0241U
U0004	86413	87636	0224U
U0005	86769	87637	0225U

The revised standard fee schedule for the COVID-19 laboratory services codes outlined above to take effect upon the expiration of the PHE, May 11, 2023, can be viewed on Availity.com.

Source: https://providernews.anthem.com/california/article/attention-lab-providers-covid-19-update-regarding-reimbursement-12