New CPT Code Expands COVID-19 Coding, Billing to Antigen Tests

The American Medical Association (AMA) recently updated Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) to enable proper COVID-19 coding and billing of antigen tests performed on patients suspected of being infected with the novel coronavirus.

Unveiled on Friday, 87426 is a Category I CPT code approved by the CPT Editorial Panel late last week during a special meeting. The long descriptor is:

Infectious agent antigen detection by immunoassay technique, (eg, enzyme immunoassay [EIA], enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA], immunochemiluminometric assay [IMCA]) qualitative or semiquantitative, multiple-step method; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (eg, SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 [COVID-19])

The new code is meant for “use as the industry standard for accurate reporting and tracking of antigen tests using immunofluorescent or immunochromatographic technique for the detection of biomolecules produced by the SAR-CoV-2 virus,” the AMA stated in the release.

Although the code is not specific to the novel coronavirus, the association points out in official CPT coding guidance. The code can be used for an immunoassay that detects antigenic proteins for either SARS-CoV or SARS-CoV-2.

Source: https://revcycleintelligence.com/news/new-cpt-code-expands-covid-19-coding-billing-to-antigen-tests