Summary & Overview

HCPCS G2024: SARS-CoV-2 Specimen Collection in SNF or HHA

HCPCS Level II code G2024 represents specimen collection for SARS-CoV-2 testing performed in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) or collected by a laboratory on behalf of a home health agency (HHA). This code captures a specific non-procedural service tied to COVID-19 diagnosis confirmation and surveillance among high-risk, congregate, and homebound populations. Nationally, accurate coding for specimen collection supports public health surveillance, facilitates reimbursement for testing workflows, and clarifies billing responsibilities between facilities, laboratories, and agencies.

Key payers addressed in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of the code’s clinical and operational context, how the service is typically delivered, and the implications for billing workflows. The publication also provides benchmarking and policy context where available, including common modifiers and typical sites of service, and notes when input data elements are not provided.

This summary is intended for billing managers, compliance officers, laboratory administrators, and clinicians who need a concise reference on HCPCS Level II code G2024, its clinical purpose, and the payer landscape relevant to specimen collection for SARS-CoV-2 in SNF and HHA settings.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicareG2024HCPCS Level IISARS-CoV-2specimen collectionskilled nursing facilityhome health agencyCOVID-19 testinglaboratory services

Billing Code Overview

HCPCS Level II code G2024 describes specimen collection for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (coronavirus disease [COVID-19]) from an individual in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) or collected by a laboratory on behalf of a home health agency (HHA). The description indicates the service applies to specimen collection for SARS-CoV-2 testing and is not limited by specimen source (any specimen source).

Service Type: Specimen collection for SARS-CoV-2 testing

Typical Site of Service: Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) or collection performed by a laboratory on behalf of a Home Health Agency (HHA)

Data not available in the input for associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, related codes, and service line.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A typical patient is a resident of a skilled nursing facility (SNF) who develops fever and new cough during a COVID-19 outbreak. The SNF nurse notifies the facility’s medical director and arranges for a specimen collection for SARS-CoV-2. A trained phlebotomist or respiratory specimen collector employed by a reference laboratory visits the SNF, dons appropriate PPE, and collects a nasopharyngeal or other approved specimen (e.g., nasal swab, saliva) from the resident. The specimen is labeled with the resident’s identifiers and clinical information, packaged per biosafety guidelines, and sent to the laboratory for molecular testing. Documentation in the resident’s chart includes the indication for testing (symptoms or exposure), time and date of collection, specimen source, collector name and credentials, and tracking/chain-of-custody information. When testing is ordered by a home health agency on behalf of a homebound patient, a laboratory may perform specimen collection at the patient’s residence following similar workflow and documentation practices.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`11`	Office or other outpatient service, normal	When specimen collection is part of a routine outpatient encounter and professional service is furnished as usual.
`22`	Increased procedural services	When collection required substantially greater effort (e.g., combative patient, multiple attempts) documented in record.
`23`	Unusual anesthesia	Not typically used for respiratory swab; used only if unusual anesthesia required for collection.
`26`	Professional component	When reporting only the professional component separate from technical services by a laboratory.
`52`	Reduced services	When specimen collection was partially reduced or limited compared to the full procedure.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	If collection was attempted but discontinued before completion for documented clinical reasons.
`54`	Surgical care only	Rarely applicable; used only if billing professional provided only surgical care unrelated to specimen collection.
`55`	Postoperative management only	Not typically applicable to this procedure; included when only postoperative care is billed.
`56`	Preoperative management only	Not typically applicable; used if only preoperative management is billed.
`62`	Two surgeons	Not routinely applicable; used only if two qualified providers performed the collection collaboratively in an unusual situation.
`QK`	Medical direction of two, three, or four assistants	Applicable when a physician directs allied health professionals assisting with collection under specified supervision rules.
`QX`	Qualified nonphysician practitioner	When a qualified nonphysician practitioner (e.g., nurse practitioner) performs the specimen collection under their independent scope.
`QY`	Service furnished by a physician organization	When services are furnished by a physician organization billing under applicable rules.
`TC`	Technical component	When billing only the laboratory technical component of testing-related services, separate from professional interpretation.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
363L00000X	Diagnostic Laboratory	Laboratories performing specimen collection and testing for SARS-CoV-2.
173B00000X	Nursing — Skilled Nursing Facility	SNF nursing staff who coordinate collection and facilitate access for laboratory collectors.
182100000X	Nurse Practitioner	Nurse practitioners who may order and/or perform specimen collection in home or SNF settings.
207Q00000X	Family Medicine	Primary care physicians who order testing for SNF or home health patients.
207L00000X	Internal Medicine	Internists and hospitalists coordinating testing for symptomatic or exposed patients.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`J12.82`	Pneumonia due to coronavirus disease 2019	Symptomatic respiratory infection prompting SARS-CoV-2 specimen collection.
`U07.1`	COVID-19	Primary diagnosis for which SARS-CoV-2 testing is performed.
`R05`	Cough	Common symptom leading to testing for SARS-CoV-2.
`R50.9`	Fever, unspecified	Fever in a SNF resident commonly triggers SARS-CoV-2 testing.
`Z20.828`	Contact with and (suspected) exposure to other viral communicable diseases	Documented exposure in a facility or household that leads to specimen collection.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`87426`	Infectious agent antigen detection by immunoassay technique, multiple step method; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (e.g., COVID-19), amplified probe technique	Laboratory test frequently performed on specimens collected for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis; follows specimen collection.
`87635`	Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (COVID-19), amplified probe technique, multiple types or subtypes; multiplex	Molecular PCR testing commonly performed on collected specimens for definitive diagnosis.
`87804`	Infectious agent antigen detection by immunoassay with direct optical observation; antigen; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (COVID-19)	Point-of-care antigen testing that may be performed on-site after specimen collection.
`99000`	Handling and/or conveyance of specimen for transfer from the physician's office to a laboratory	Ancillary service sometimes billed when specimens are collected and transported to an outside laboratory.