COVID-19 CPT coding and guidance

UPDATED . 3 MIN READ
Physician filling out a form

New Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) codes have been created that streamline the novel coronavirus testing currently available on the United States market.

Find COVID-19 vaccine CPT® codes

Use this AMA tool to determine the appropriate CPT code combination for the type and dose of vaccine being used.

CPT codes have been created for reporting of immunizations for the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2, also known as COVID-19). These CPT codes are unique for each coronavirus vaccine as well as administration codes unique to each such vaccine. The new CPT codes clinically distinguish each coronavirus vaccine for better tracking, reporting and analysis that supports data-driven planning and allocation.

More information can be found at the COVID-19 CPT vaccine and immunization codes page.

Along with releasing the standard code descriptor PDF, we are also releasing an easy to use Excel file of just the SARS-CoV-2-related CPT codes. The file contains the SARS-CoV-2-related CPT codes released since the 2021 data file release on Aug. 31, 2020 and includes:

  • CPT code descriptors (long, medium, and short)
  • Published date
  • Effective date
  • Type of change. 

Visit the COVID-19 CPT vaccine and immunization codes page for more information and to download the files.

As new SARS-CoV-2-related CPT codes are published by the CPT Editorial Panel, the American Medical Association (AMA) will update the file.

Featured updates: COVID-19

Access the AMA's library of the most up-to-date resources on COVID-19, including articles, videos, research highlights and more.

Review and download the full CPT code descriptor release.

The descriptors documents on this page do not include the COVID-19 vaccine CPT codes. Further updates to these documents will only occur when there are additional modifications to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (coronavirus disease [COVID-19]) codes other than vaccines.

Feb. 21, 2022: Addition of code 87913 to report severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (coronavirus disease [COVID-19]) mutation identification in targeted region(s).

All vaccine codes can be found at the CPT vaccine and immunization codes page.

CPT Assistant is providing fact sheets for coding guidance for new SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)-related testing codes.

The fact sheets include codes, descriptors and purpose, clinical examples, description of the procedures, and FAQs.

CPT © Copyright 2023 American Medical Association. All rights reserved. AMA and CPT are registered trademarks of the American Medical Association.

FEATURED STORIES