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COVID-19: How to bill for drive-through testing
April 20, 2020

This article is for professional providers, outpatient facilities, and urgent care centers caring for our members

We understand the need to provide easy access to testing and care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Providers across the state are setting up drive-through options to expedite widespread coronavirus testing. The following billing guidelines have been established for the duration of the Massachusetts state of emergency.

Drive-through billing guidelines

When testing patients in a drive-through or other temporary setting (such as a tent), please use the following codes for claims with dates of service on or after March 1, 2020. These codes apply to all commercial, Medicare Advantage, and Federal Employee Program (FEP) members.

Code Comments

99001
(CPT)

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is temporarily allowing reimbursement for this code for drive-through testing specimen collection*

G2023
(HCPCS)

Specimen collection for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]), any specimen source*

*Reimbursement for these codes is included in the payment for an evaluation or management (E/M) service if reported by the same provider on the same day, for the same member.

Please also use one of the following applicable place of service codes that describes the location of the drive-through or temporary testing site.

Place of service code Location
POS 11 Office
POS 15 Mobile unit
POS 20 Urgent care facility
POS 22/19 On/off campus outpatient hospital
POS 23 Emergency room hospital

We will update our professional provider, outpatient hospital, and urgent care fee schedules accordingly.

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