MedicaidBilling CodesMedium impact
Correction to Previous Billing Guidance for COVID-19 Specimen Collection Code 99000
Illinois Medicaid - HFS·IL · Family Medicine, General Practice, Internal Medicine·Provider Notice
Effective date
Mar 18, 2020
We identified it
Jun 20, 2026
Summary
COVID-19 specimen collection code 99000 should NOT be billed separately when collected during a face-to-face encounter, as it's already included in the visit code. Code 99000 can only be billed alone ($23.46) when there's no other billable encounter.
Action Required
Immediately: Billing team must stop using CPT 99000 as a detail code with T1015 encounter codes for COVID-19 specimen collection during visits. Rebill any claims that received G70 rejections by removing the 99000 detail code (timely filing suspended for these claims). Only bill 99000 alone when patient presents solely for specimen collection with no other encounter.