During the COVID-19 public health emergency, CMS is relaxing billing requirements for a limited number of laboratory tests required for a COVID-19 diagnosis. Any healthcare professional authorized under state law may order these tests. Medicare will pay for these tests without a written order from the treating physician or other practitioner.
- If an order is not written, you do not need to provide the National Provider Identifier (NPI) of the ordering or referring professional on the claim.
- If an order is written, include the NPI of the ordering or referring professional, consistent with current billing guidelines.