When it comes to billing for vaccines, the rules for reporting administration codes can be tricky. Reporting the right vaccine code alone is not enough to guarantee proper billing. Most billing scenarios allow providers to charge for both the vaccine product and the administration of the vaccine itself. However, there are a few exceptions in which the vaccine may not be billed, but the administration code may be reported. Coders must understand how to apply vaccine administration codes properly in order to ensure full reimbursement for these services.
Administration Code Sets
There are three code sets that can be used to report vaccine administration codes:
Note: G-codes follow different reporting guidelines than the CPT® administration codes (90465-90474). See the section HCPCS Administration Codes on page 3 of this article for specific HCPCS administration code rules.
Route of Administration
To select the appropriate administration code, you must first know the route of administration of the vaccine itself. Most vaccines are given as injections, such as percutaneous, intradermal, subcutaneous or intramuscular. However, there are also a few oral and intranasal vaccines (90476, 90477, 90660, 90680, 90681, 90690 and 90712).
Initial Vaccines
If one or more vaccines are performed during an encounter, an initial administration code must be reported. The initial administration codes include:
When more than one vaccine is given during the same visit, coders must decide which initial administration code to use. Refer to the following guidelines:
Subsequent Vaccines
If more than one vaccine is administered on the same day, a second or third administration fee is required to document the additional vaccines. All subsequent vaccine codes are classified as add-on codes and must never be reported without an initial administration code (90465, 90467, 90470, 90471 or 90473). The definitions for the subsequent administration codes are as follows:
Apply units to the subsequent administration code for every additional vaccine (two or more) of the same type (injectable or oral).
Note: The total number of units for the initial and subsequent administration codes should equal the total number of vaccines given. Refer to the following examples:
2 Injectable Vaccines with Counseling
5 Injectable Vaccines
1 Intranasal, 2 Oral Vaccines
Remember to report injectable administration codes before oral or intranasal administration codes. Refer to the following examples:
1 Injectable Vaccine with Counseling, 1 Oral Vaccine
4 Injectable Vaccines, 1 Oral Vaccine
Table 1 includes a quick reference for valid and invalid administration code combinations. Cells with NA represent invalid code combinations, and blank cells represent valid combinations.
Code |
90465 |
90466 |
90467 |
90468 |
90470 |
90471 |
90472 |
90473 |
90474 |
90465
|
NA
|
|
NA
|
|
NA
|
NA
|
|
NA
|
|
90466
|
|
NA
|
NA
|
|
|
NA
|
|
NA
|
|
90467
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
90468
|
|
|
|
NA
|
|
NA
|
|
NA
|
|
90470
|
NA
|
|
NA
|
|
NA
|
NA
|
|
NA
|
|
90471
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
|
NA
|
|
90472
|
|
|
NA
|
|
|
|
NA
|
NA
|
|
90473
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
|
90474
|
|
|
NA
|
|
|
|
|
|
NA
|
HCPCS Administration Codes
When billing influenza, influenza H1N1, pneumonia or hepatitis B, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) require physicians to report HCPCS administration codes rather than CPT® administration codes. The HCPCS administration codes and the vaccine codes have a one-to-one relationship and are always paired together. Rules for reporting initial or subsequent vaccines do not apply. The HCPCS administration codes and the vaccines they are paired with are listed below:
If other vaccines are combined with these four G-codes, the standard CPT® administration codes (90465-90474) must be used to track the remaining vaccines. Listed below are examples of a Medicare claim and a non-Medicare claim:
Medicare
In the above Medicare example, there is a total of four vaccines, one HCPCS administration code (G0008), and two CPT administration codes (90471 and 90472)—three administration codes in all. In the non-Medicare example, there are still four vaccines, but only two CPT® administration codes (90471 and 90472). Both scenarios are correct, depending on the payer.
Note: For Medicare, add modifier 59 to any CPT® administration code (90465-90474) if it is on the same claim as a HCPCS G-code. Check with other payers to see if they also require a modifier 59.
State Vaccine Programs or Vaccines for Children (VFC)
Physicians who participate in state Vaccines for Children (VFC) programs are provided with vaccines by the state. Therefore, physicians may not charge the beneficiaries for the vaccines, and are not separately reimbursed by Medicaid or commercial carriers. However, providers are allowed to charge for administering the vaccines (90465-90474). Depending on how you track the state-provided vaccines, you may need an SL or VFC modifier with the vaccine code (90476-90749). Check with your state VFC program and local carriers for specific rules.
Age-Specific Vaccines
Certain vaccines specify age requirements. The definitions may indicate a date range, or they may be more generic and only state whether the patient was a pediatric patient or an adult. Make sure the patient demographics (that is, the patient’s age) and the vaccine requirements do not contradict one another. The age-specific vaccines include the following: 90632, 90633, 90634, 90636, 90655, 90656, 90657, 90658, 90669, 90696, 90700, 90702, 90714, 90715, 90718, 90732, 90743 and 90744.
Each vaccine has a corresponding V-code listed in the ICD-9 manual (see V03 through V06.9). Sometimes V20.2 may be used as the diagnosis for vaccines, but most often, you should apply the specific V-code from V03 through V06.9.
Vaccines and Evalualtion and Management Codes
National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) edits do not allow 99211 to be billed with any vaccine administration codes (90465-90474). For separately billable evaluation and management (E/M) services performed on the same day as vaccines, add modifier 25 to the E/M code.
2010 Vaccine Updates
The American Medical Association recently released an announcement for 2010 vaccine updates. See the following link for more details: http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/362/vaccine-codes.pdf
2009-2010 Immunizers’ Question and Answer Guide to Medicare Coverage of Seasonal Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccinations
Coding for Vaccines and Administration
Vaccination Management: Is Your Practice on Target?