U0001 HCPCS code: Cdc 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-ncov) real-time rt-pcr diagnostic panel
U0001 is the HCPCS Level II code for cdc 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-ncov) real-time rt-pcr diagnostic panel. In 2024 Medicare paid an average of $35.10 per service for U0001 across 262 services. Its Medicare coverage code is C (Carrier judgment): Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case. The NCCI unit limit is 2 per day on outpatient hospital claims. Medicare volume fell 76% from 2022 to 2024 (1,108 to 262 services). In 2024, about 9 clinicians billed Medicare for U0001 for 224 beneficiaries.
Code details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Section | U codes — Coronavirus diagnostic panel / laboratory |
| Coverage code | C — Carrier judgment |
| Pricing indicator | 22 |
| BETOS category | T1H |
| Added | 2020-02-04 |
| Last action effective | 2020-02-04 |
Who bills U0001 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Clinicians billing (by place of service) | 9 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 224 |
| States with claims | 3 |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for U0001, 2022–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1,108 | 754 | $35.55 | $35.55 |
| 2023 | 851 | 446 | $35.17 | $35.17 |
| 2024 | 262 | 224 | $35.10 | $35.10 |
States with the most U0001 services (2024)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 125 | $35.19 |
| Virginia | 107 | $35.20 |
| Michigan | 19 | $35.20 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| outpatient hospital claims | 2 | Nature of Analyte |
| practitioner claims | 2 | Nature of Analyte |
Medicare policy articles for this code
- A58710: Billing and Coding: MolDX: Molecular Syndromic Panels for Infectious Disease Pathogen Identification Testing (Palmetto GBA (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B))
- A58720: Billing and Coding: MolDX: Molecular Syndromic Panels for Infectious Disease Pathogen Identification Testing (Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B))
- A58747: Billing and Coding: MolDX: Molecular Syndromic Panels for Infectious Disease Pathogen Identification Testing (CGS Administrators, LLC (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B))
- A58761: Billing and Coding: MolDX: Molecular Syndromic Panels for Infectious Disease Pathogen Identification Testing (WPS Insurance Corporation (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B))
Covered diagnoses (852 ICD-10-CM codes)
The diagnoses most often listed as covered in the policy articles above:
| ICD-10-CM | Diagnosis | Articles listing it |
|---|---|---|
| A00.0 | Cholera due to Vibrio cholerae 01, biovar cholerae | 4 |
| A00.1 | Cholera due to Vibrio cholerae 01, biovar eltor | 4 |
| A00.9 | Cholera, unspecified | 4 |
| A01.00 | Typhoid fever, unspecified | 4 |
| A01.01 | Typhoid meningitis | 4 |
| A01.02 | Typhoid fever with heart involvement | 4 |
| A01.03 | Typhoid pneumonia | 4 |
| A01.04 | Typhoid arthritis | 4 |
| A01.05 | Typhoid osteomyelitis | 4 |
| A01.09 | Typhoid fever with other complications | 4 |
Showing 10 of 852. The full list, non-covered diagnoses and CSV export are in Caduvo.
What changed for U0001
- 2020-02-04: U0001 added to HCPCS Level II
- Next scheduled CMS quarterly update (HCPCS and DMEPOS fee schedule): 2027-01-01
Frequently asked questions
What is HCPCS code U0001?
U0001 is the HCPCS Level II code for cdc 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-ncov) real-time rt-pcr diagnostic panel. Short descriptor: "2019-ncov diagnostic p".
How much does Medicare pay for U0001?
In 2024, the average Medicare payment was $35.10 per service (average allowed $35.10).
Does Medicare cover U0001?
Coverage code C — Carrier judgment. Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case.
Which diagnoses support coverage for U0001?
Medicare policy articles that cite U0001 list 852 covered ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes across 4 articles. The most cited include A00.0 (Cholera due to Vibrio cholerae 01, biovar cholerae), A00.1 (Cholera due to Vibrio cholerae 01, biovar eltor), A00.9 (Cholera, unspecified). A listed diagnosis is necessary but not sufficient; the policy's other criteria still apply.
How many units of U0001 can be billed per day?
2 on outpatient hospital claims; 2 on practitioner claims (NCCI medically unlikely edits).
Related U00 codes
- U0002 — 2019-ncov coronavirus, sars-cov-2/2019-ncov (covid-19), any technique, multiple types or subtypes (includes all targets), non-cdc
- U0003 — Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (dna or rna); severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (sars-cov-2) (coronavirus disease [covid-19]), amplified probe technique, making use of high throughput technologies as described by cms-2020-01-r
- U0004 — 2019-ncov coronavirus, sars-cov-2/2019-ncov (covid-19), any technique, multiple types or subtypes (includes all targets), non-cdc, making use of high throughput technologies as described by cms-2020-01-r
- U0005 — Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (dna or rna); severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (sars-cov-2) (coronavirus disease [covid-19]), amplified probe technique, cdc or non-cdc, making use of high throughput technologies, completed within 2 calendar days from date of specimen collection (list separately in addition to either hcpcs code u0003 or u0004) as described by cms-2020-01-r2
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Next steps
- Run a reimbursement report for a device billed under U0001
- Watch U0001 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for U0001
Sources: CMS HCPCS Level II release October 2025; CMS DMEPOS fee schedule; CMS NCCI MUE tables; CMS Medicare utilization (physician and DME supplier files); CMS Medicare Coverage Database articles. Fees are Medicare allowables, not commercial rates. Not billing or legal advice.