Did you know how many medical coding changes take place each year? You can expect for the next year
too! For January, 2021, healthcare professionals must be ready for medical coding changes right from
CPT codes in telehealth to ICD-10-CM codes for Covid-19. Everyone is eagerly waiting for Covid
vaccine and as soon as it comes into play, it surely will have more impact than ever before.
In 2021, many changes are being implemented in order to expand and improve descriptors those impact
the revenue payments for treatment and care of Covid-19. Adding to it, Medicare Physician Fee
Schedule comes into force in 2021 which significantly impacts healthcare professionals’
reimbursement rates.
ICD-10-PCS (inpatient) Medical Coding Changes for Covid-19:
From beginning of the year 2021,the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is ready to
implement brand new ICD-10-PCS codes for covid-19 vaccines and therapeutics that includes FDA
approved Baricitinib and which is at present used for rheumatoid arthritis.
Medical coding for inpatient treatment and in conjunction with remdesivir, monoclonal antibody and
immunomodulator treatments also takes place. These codes are given below:
XW013H6: This code is used for the introduction of other new technology monocmonoclonal antibody
into subcutaneous tissue and percutaneous approach, under new technology group 6.
XW013K6: This code is used for the introduction of Leronlimab monoclonal antibody with subcutaneous
tissue and percutaneous approach, under new technology group 6.
XW013S6: This code is used for the introduction of Covid-19 vaccine dose-1 into subcutaneous tissue
and percutaneous approach, under new technology group 6.
XW013T6: This code is used for the introduction of Covid-19 vaccine dose-2 into subcutaneous tissue
and percutaneous approach, under new technology group 6.
XW013U6: This code is used for the introduction of Covid-19 vaccine into subcutaneous tissue and
percutaneous approach, under new technology group 6.
XW023S6: This code is used for the introduction of Covid-19 vaccine dose-1 into muscle, percutaneous
approach, under new technology group 6.
XW023T6: This code is used for the introduction of Covid-19 vaccine dose-2 into muscle, percutaneous
approach, under new technology group 6.
XW023U6: This code is used for the introduction of Covid-19 vaccine muscle, percutaneous approach,
under new technology group 6.
XW033E6: This code is used for the introduction of etesevimab monoclonal antibody into Peripheral
vein, percutaneous approach, under new technology group 6.
XW033F6: This code is used for the introduction of bamlanivimab monoclonal antibody into Peripheral
vein, percutaneous approach, under new technology group 6.
XW033G6: This code is used for the introduction of REGN-COV2 monoclonal antibody into Peripheral
vein, percutaneous approach, under new technology group 6.
XW033H6: This code is used for the introduction of other new technology monoclonal antibody into
Peripheral vein, percutaneous approach, under new technology group 6.
XW033L6: This code is used for the introduction of CD24Fc immunomodulator into Peripheral vein,
percutaneous approach, under new technology group 6.
XW043E6: This code is used for the introduction of etesevimab monoclonal antibody into Central vein,
percutaneous approach, under new technology group 6.
XW043F6: This code is used for the introduction of bamlanivimab monoclonal antibody into Central
vein, percutaneous approach, under new technology group 6.
XW043G6: This code is uses for the introduction of REGN-COV2 monoclonal antibody into Central vein,
percutaneous approach, under new technology group 6.
XW043H6: This code is used for the introduction of other new technology monoclonal antibody into
Central vein, percutaneous approach, under new technology group 6.
XW043L6: This code is used for the introduction of CD24Fc immunomodulator into Central vein,
percutaneous approach, under new technology group 6.
XW07M6: This code is used for the introduction of baricitinib into lower GI, through natural or
artificial opening, under new technology group 6.
XW0DXM6: This code is used for the introduction of baricitinib into mouth and pharynx, external
approach, under new technology group 6.
XW0G7M6: This code is used for the introduction of baricitinib into upper GI, through natural or
artificial opening, under new technology group 6.
ICD-10-PCS Medical Coding changes for MS-DRGs:
In Medical coding changes 2021,additional approach continued by CMS which has assigned Medicare
Severity Diagnosis related groups to six ICD-10-PCS medical coding in regards to Covid-19 includes:
16: Personal history of Covid-19
52: Encounter for Covid-19 screening
822: Suspected exposure to Covid-19
82: Pneumonia caused due to Covid-19 and includes the inclusion terms “pneumonia due to COVID-19”
and “pneumonia due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2”.
81: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome
89: Other involvement of connective tissue.
Additionally, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services has approved the usage of CPT codes for
vaccines and vaccine administration including all the inpatients. Medicare Advantage participants
should submit original claims to Medicare for all the vaccines and vaccine administration in 2021.
Telemedicine is a must for 2021:
Telemedicine or telehealth became very effective during the times when coronavirus started spreading
across the world.
Medical coding changes for Covid-19 are going to take place with all the newly adopted norms and
regulations .
Virtual care platforms such as video conferencing and digital monitoring have been tremendously used
to control the spread of Covid-19.
As there’s a need for innovation and requirements for telemedicine services in the upcoming years,
medical solutions such as telehealth or telemedicine will become the focal points of new technology
upgrades and software development.
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