Where can I find information regarding Medicare coverage for testing beneficiaries for the H1N1 virus, including procedure codes and diagnosis codes?
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has not published any information specific to testing for the H1N1 virus. Also, CMS has not published any procedure codes or diagnosis codes specifically for testing for the H1N1 flu virus The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published an article stating that none of the rapid influenza diagnostic tests currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are able to distinguish the 2009 H1N1 flu virus from other flu viruses. You may access this article on the following CDS website: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/diagnostic_testing_public_qa.html(external link). Providers should keep in mind that all Medicare services, including H1N1 flu testing, furnished under the Medicare program must be medically reasonable and necessary and appropriate for the diagnosis and/or treatment of an illness or injury. Information regarding the H1N1 flu virus is available on the following CMS website. http://www.cms.gov/H1N1/.
