Cracking the Code
Updated COVID-19 Diagnosis
- Published on
Effective immediately as of January 1st, 2021, there are new diagnosis codes pertaining to COVID-19!
Z11.52, encounter for screening for COVID-19 (previously used Z11.59; reported for people who are asymptomatic and test negative)
Z20.822, contact with and (suspected) exposure to COVID-19 (previously Z20.828)
Z86.16, personal history of COVID-19 (previously used Z86.19)
J12.82, pneumonia due to coronavirus disease 2019 (previously used J12.89). Includes the inclusion terms, “pneumonia due to COVID-19” and “pneumonia due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2”. Existing coding guidance (prior to 1/1/21) for COVID-19-related pneumonia instructs coders to report two ICD-10-CM codes for the condition: U07.1 (COVID-19) and J12.89 (other viral pneumonia). As of 1/1/21, AHA now recommends that BOTH U07.1 and J12.82 be reported for viral pneumonia due to COVID-19.
M35.81, multisystem inflammatory syndrome (previously used M35.8)
The information is fluid, and we are currently staying abreast. We will be sure to distribute more details once we discover more information.