COVID-19: Modified Ordering Requirements for Laboratory Billing

During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, CMS is relaxing billing requirements for laboratory tests (PDF) required for a COVID-19 diagnosis. Any health care professional authorized under state law may order tests. Medicare will pay for tests without a written order from the treating physician or other practitioner:

• If an order is not written, an ordering or referring National Provider Identifier (NPI) is not required on the claim
• If an order is written, include the NPI of the ordering or referring professional, consistent with current billing guidelines

For More Information:

• Laboratory Tests (PDF) with modified requirements
• Interim Final Rule

Source: https://www.cms.gov/outreach-and-educationoutreachffsprovpartprogprovider-partnership-email-archive/2020-05-07-mlnc