In an August 2020 notice to providers, Blue Shield announced it would be temporarily increasing payment rates for certain E/M codes to help reduce the negative impacts of COVID-19. The increased pay rates are equal to a flat five percent fee schedule increase for providers on the Blue Shield standard fee schedule, effective for services delivered from August 24 to December 31, 2020, for the following services:
| CPT Code | Description |
| 99201 – 99205 | Office visit – new patient |
| 99211 – 99215 | Office visit – existing patient |
| 99241 – 99245 | Office consultation |
| 99381 – 99387 | Initial preventive medicine visit – new patient |
| 99391 – 99397 | Periodic preventive medicine visit – established patient |
| 99441 – 99443 | Physician/qualified health professional telephone evaluation. |
| 99421 – 99423 | Online digital evaluation and management services for established patient |
| 99446 – 99449 | Interprofessional phone/internet assessment and management service |
Physicians can also request a copy of the new fees by completing the allowance review form enclosed with the notice, or by calling the Blue Shield Provider Information and Enrollment Department at (800) 258-3091.
