The Alabama Medicaid Agency (Medicaid) has extended all expiration dates previously published in provider ALERTs related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency. The original expiration of April 16, 2020 is extended to April 30, 2020. Further guidance will be provided as necessary. 

This applies to the following provider ALERTs:

• ALERT:   COVID-19 Lab Testing Procedure Codes – 3/13/20
• ALERT:   Alabama Medicaid Extends Temporary Telemedicine Coverage – 3/18/20 
• ALERT:   Pharmacy Updates Related to COVID-19 – 3/18/20  
• ALERT:   Alabama Medicaid Extends Temporary Telemedicine Coverage for Optometrists - 3/20/20
• ALERT:   Alabama Medicaid Modifies Recipient Signature Requirement during COVID-19 Emergency - 3/20/20
• ALERT:   Alabama Medicaid Will Temporarily Lift the EPSDT Referral Requirement - 3/25/20
• ALERT:   Temporary Changes to ACHN Care Coordination, PCP/DHCP Referrals, and Medical Management Meetings - 3/26/20
• ALERT:   Waiver for Pre-Admission Screening and Annual Resident Review (PASRR) Level I and Level II Assessments for 30 Days - 3/26/20
• ALERT:   Temporary Changes to allow Reimbursement for Telephonic Postpartum Visits - 3/27/20
• ALERT UPDATE:  Temporarily Allowing Speech and Occupational Therapy Services Through Telemedicine during COVID-19 Emergency - 3/27/20
• ALERT:   Waiver for Medicaid Copayments during COVID-19 Emergency - 3/27/20  
• ALERT:   Alabama Medicaid Recipients to Remain Eligible during COVID-19 Emergency - 3/31/20
• ALERT:   Waiver for Ambulance Providers during COVID-19 Emergency - 4/1/20
• ALERT:   Governor Ivey - Small Business Assistance during COVID-19 Emergency - 4/1/20
• ALERT:   AL Medicaid Temporarily Allowing Physical Therapy Services Through Telemedicine during COVID-19 Emergency - 4/3/20

During the COVID-19 emergency, it is important to file claims as quickly as possible to ensure payment from Medicaid is made to Medicaid providers close to the date of service. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has increased the federal matching percentage for the emergency time frame, but states can only receive the increased match on claims that are paid during the emergency.

Effective for dates of service beginning April 1, 2020, Medicaid added diagnosis code U07.1 – 2019-nCoV Acute Respiratory Disease to the claims system. Providers should include this diagnosis code on claims submitted for patients that have received a confirmed test for COVID-19. Including this diagnosis code will allow Medicaid to track COVID-19 cases in our recipient population.