Billing for COVID Recovery Clinics: A How To Guide
The Rise of COVID Recovery Clinics
As the world becomes more familiar with the long-term effects of COVID-19 each and every day, so too are physicians becoming more familiar with the complications that arise for many individuals. Surprise has come, too, even for those individuals who have had mild cases of COVID-19, as even some of these individuals have found themselves experiencing complications after their initial recovery. With complete recovery being unique for every patient, COVID recovery clinics have proven their essential nature. COVID recovery clinics are being developed at a rapid pace, and providers find themselves seeking solutions to their medical billing processes.
Within COVID recovery clinics, many services can be offered, each with a unique billing process that must be handled responsibly. Many facilities focus on pulmonary rehabilitation, but also offer a vast array of other services: counseling, medication, supplemental oxygen therapy, physical therapy, and a variety of other treatments depending on the severity of symptoms. Offering such a wide range of services requires high levels of communication between physicians, who necessarily work together to develop and carry out treatment plans.
Recovery Clinic Screening
Each COVID recovery clinic has a unique screening process which patients must undergo in order to receive care. While these processes are essential for determining if a clinic is the right fit for a patient, they are even more essential for creating a treatment plan that addresses the patient’s cognitive, physical, and equipment-related needs. Listed below are a few examples of screening methods used by COVID recovery clinics:
- Recency of positive COVID-19 test results
- Presence of COVID-19 antibodies
- Pulmonary Functioning Screen
- Rehabilitation Needs Screen
- Stamina Screen
- Cognitive Assessment
The majority of these assessments are regular practice for many physicians and remain within the general scope of practice. However, testing directly related to COVID-19 and the presence of antibodies brings new challenges, particularly into the medical billing process.
CPT Codes for High-Throughput COVID Testing
As a greater understanding of SARS-CoV-2 is developed, so too is the process for billing related services, particularly high-throughput testing. As of April 2, 2020, the following CPT codes for high-throughput COVID testing went into effect:
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 as described by CMS-2020-01-R.
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 as described by CMS-2020-01-R.
Understanding how to apply these CPT codes to your practice is a critical component in providing quality care. Additionally, these new standards are essential in the day to day operations of your facility and your ability to maintain your Revenue Cycle Management. For more information on COVID-19 billing and codes, click here.
Why Outsource Your Medical Billing?
Outsourced medical billing for COVID recovery clinics will play a vital role in the quality of treatment that patients receive. The rapid increase in the demand for such clinics presents physicians with a tighter schedule, sometimes requiring the prioritization of quality of care over best medical billing processes. By outsourcing your COVID recovery clinic billing, your clinic will be able to focus its time and energy where it is most desired – your patients.
Outsourced medical billing:
- Allows your staff to engage in more patient care activities and allocate more time to compassionate care.
- Saves money on hardware and software costs associated with your newly designated facilities.
- Provides seamless data transfer.
- Reduces the risk of billing and coding errors.
Why Med USA?
At Med USA, we understand the value of patient care and the intimate relationship that quality of care has with your medical billing process. COVID recovery clinics are not your typical clinic; they are preventative and thoughtful in ways that no one could foresee. Your billing processes should be just as forward thinking.
Med USA is one of the most successful medical billing companies operating in the United States. For more than 40 years, we have assisted over 2,500 clients by providing top-tier medical billing services with a retention rate of over 97%. Our partners are provided with dedicated Account Managers, individuals who care deeply about the success of your clinic and the recovery of your patients.
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