New CPT code covers prep time, supplies, PPE needed during pandemic

Effective Sept. 8, new Current Procedural Terminology code 99072 may be reported for:

Additional supplies, materials, and preparation time required and provided by the physician or other qualified health care professional and/or clinical staff over and above those usually included in an office visit or other service(s), when performed during a nationally declared public health emergency due to respiratory transmitted infectious disease.

Code 99072 is to be reported only once per in-person patient encounter per provider identification number, regardless of the number of services rendered at that encounter.

Code 99072 is designed to capture the following practice expense factors:

• Time over what is included in the primary service of clinical staff time to conduct a pre-visit phone call to screen the patient (symptom check), provide instructions on social distancing during the visit, check patients for symptoms upon arrival, apply and remove personal protective equipment, and additional cleaning of the examination/procedure/imaging rooms, equipment and supplies
• Three surgical masks
• Additional cleaning supplies (e.g., hand sanitizers, disinfectant wipes)