The National Library of Medicine (NLM) Value Set Authority Center (VSAC) is pleased to announce that we have updated VSAC with several provisional terminology codes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

These provisional codes were developed by the following standard terminologies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and they are based on the most up to date information available at the time of their creation:

Code System	VSAC Code System Version	Additional Information
CPT	Provisional_2020-03-26	https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/new-cpt-code-announced-report-novel-coronavirus-test
HCPCS	Provisional_2020-03-26	https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/public-health-news-alert-cms-develops-new-code-coronavirus-lab-test
ICD-10-CM	Provisional_2020-03-26	New ICD-10-CM code for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), 3/18/2020
LOINC	Provisional_2020-03-31	Special Use Codes Only

The “VSAC Code System Version” designation is a VSAC-created element based on the VSAC acquisition date of the provisional codes. Be aware that downstream users may not be ready to handle prerelease codes until they are published in an official terminology release.

SNOMED CT US Edition 2020-03, updated in VSAC on 3/17/2020, also included new codes for the 2019 novel coronavirus. VSAC has updated the new terms for these concepts from the March 2020 Interim International Edition release which was created as part of the ongoing global effort to tackle the Coronavirus outbreak, and as such includes the updated Coronavirus descriptions for Members and implementers.

See our new VSAC Support Center page on how to include provisional codes in your VSAC value sets.

Questions? Contact Us

Last Reviewed: July 12, 2024