ICD-10 Committee Proposes New 2021 ICD-10-CM Codes for COVID-19

The creation of the new combined code would "improve coding specificity for pneumonia due to [COVID-19]," according to committee members.

A version of this article was first published September 28, 2020, by HCPro's Revenue Cycle Advisor, a sibling publication to HealthLeaders.

During a meeting in early September, members of the ICD-10 Coordination and Maintenance Committee proposed creating new ICD-10-CM codes related to screening, exposure, and personal history for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The new codes, if finalized, would take effect in January 2021.

In response to “multiple requests for related codes,” the ICD-10 Coordination and Maintenance Committee announced that it is considering adding the following codes to the ICD-10-CM code set:

• Z11.52, encounter for screening for COVID-19
  • Reported for people who are asymptomatic
• Z20.822, contact with and (suspected) exposure to COVID-19
• Z86.16, personal history of COVID-19

In addition, the committee proposed adding a new code that would allow providers to report COVID-19-caused pneumonia with one code instead of two:

• J12.82, pneumonia due to coronavirus disease 2019
  • Includes the inclusion terms, “pneumonia due to COVID-19” and “pneumonia due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2”

Existing coding guidance for COVID-19-related pneumonia instructs coders to report two ICD-10-CM codes for the condition: U07.1 (COVID-19) and J20.89 (other viral pneumonia).

The creation of the new combined code would “improve coding specificity for pneumonia due to [COVID-19],” according to committee members.

Finally, the committee proposes adding a new code for multisystem inflammatory syndrome—a condition associated with COVID-19, particularly in children:

• M35.81, multisystem inflammatory syndrome

Comments on the proposed changes are due to the committee by October 9 and should be sent to nchsicd10CM@cdc.gov.