For guidance on test ordering, specimen collection and processing please consult your contracted lab, hospital or the OHA for the state lab. Medicare and the AMA have released the following codes for use when testing of COVID-19:
COVID-19 diagnostic testing
- Medicare:
- U0001: SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests performed specifically at CDC testing laboratories.
- U0002: SARS-CoV-2/2019-nCoV diagnostic tests performed at non-CDC testing laboratories, otherwise known as the novel coronavirus or COVID-19.
- U0003: Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (coronavirus disease [COVID-19]), amplified probe technique, making use of high throughput technologies.
- U0004: 2019-nCoV Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2/2019-nCoV (COVID-19), any technique, multiple types or subtypes (includes all targets), non-CDC, making use of high throughput technologies.
- AMA:
- 87635: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-2-CoV-2) (coronavirus disease [COVID-19]).
COVID-19 antibody testing
- 86328: Immunoassay for infectious agent antibody(ies), qualitative or semiquantitative, single step method (e.g., reagent strip); severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (coronavirus disease [COVID-19]).
- 86769: Antibody; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (coronavirus disease [COVID-19]).
During the COVID-19 emergency, CareOregon will follow Oregon Health Plan (OHP) coverage guidance for COVID-19 antibody testing. COVID-19 antibody testing (also known as serology testing) to diagnose SARS-CoV-2 coverage criteria:
- Uses tests that have FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) or FDA approval and
- Is to evaluate a hospitalized person under age 21 for possible multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).
COVID-19 antigen testing
- 87426: Infectious agent antigen detection by immunoassay technique (e.g., enzyme immunoassay [EIA], enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA], immunochemiluminometric assay [IMCA]), qualitative or semiquantitative, multiple-step method; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (e.g., SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 [COVID-19]).
- 0223U: Infectious disease (bacterial or viral respiratory tract infection), pathogen-specific nucleic acid (DNA or RNA), 22 targets including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), qualitative RT-PCR, nasopharyngeal swab, each pathogen reported as detected or not detected.
- 0224U: Antibody, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]), includes titer(s), when performed.