In an effort to help offset the extra expenses practices have incurred related to COVID-19, the AMA recently approved new CPT code 99072. 99072 is defined as Additional supplies, materials, and clinical staff time over and above those usually included in an office visit or other non-facility service(s), when performed during a Public Health Emergency as defined by law, due to respiratory-transmitted infectious disease. While the code has an effective date of September 8, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is not yet covering it, and it is unclear when CMS will provide payment policy guidance. The AMA asked CMS to cover the 99072 code at the RUC approved amount of $6.57. Similarly, little is known about whether private payers intend to cover the code, or for how much. Preliminary reports from some practices indicate some private payers are not currently reimbursing for this code, so check with your payers regarding their policy.
