AMA CPT® Assistant - 2023 Issue 5 (May)
New COVID-19 Vaccine Codes: May Update (May Special Update 2023)
May Special Update 2023 page 1 New COVID-19 Vaccine Codes: May Update Based on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) recent changes for the administration recommendations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines, the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) Editorial Panel (the Panel) has approved new vaccine administration codes 0171A and 0172A for the administration of a first and second dose of the Pfizer bivalent vaccine product (91317) for patients aged 6 months through 4 years; vaccine administration code 0151A for the administration of a single dose of the...
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Article Overview
This CPT® Assistant special update explains recent COVID-19 vaccine coding changes issued in response to FDA and AMA/CPT actions. It is aimed at coders, billing staff, and clinical documentation teams who need to understand which guidance was updated, how the vaccine coding structure changed, and where to look for current CPT and CDC/FDA references. The article also summarizes scenario-based guidance, appendix updates, and the transition in terminology used for COVID-19 vaccine administration.
Why This Topic Matters
COVID-19 vaccine coding changed quickly in 2023, and this update helps readers stay aligned with current CPT guidance and related federal recommendations. It is relevant for accurate reporting of vaccine product and administration services and for recognizing which prior codes were being phased out or updated.
Article Sections
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May Special Update 2023 page 1
Introductory update on recent COVID-19 vaccine coding changes and the context for the CPT® guidance that follows. Summarizes the scope of the new and revised vaccine administration information.
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Immunization Administration for Vaccines/Toxoids
Overview of the newly approved COVID-19 vaccine administration codes and the associated bivalent vaccine coding structure. Includes references to related product codes and terminology updates.
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Table 2. Pfizer Bivalent Vaccines: Scenarios, Recommendations, and CPT Codes
Scenario-based guidance for Pfizer bivalent vaccine reporting by age group and vaccination history. Presents how the article organizes the CPT information into practical reporting categories.
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Table 3. Moderna Bivalent Vaccine: Scenarios, Recommendations, and CPT Codes
Scenario-based guidance for Moderna bivalent vaccine reporting by age group and vaccination history. Highlights the article’s structured presentation of product and administration coding scenarios.
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Table 4. Excerpt from Appendix Q: New Pfizer and Moderna Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Codes
Excerpted appendix material showing the updated vaccine administration code structure and terminology changes. Provides a reference point for how the CPT appendix reflects the current COVID-19 vaccine coding landscape.
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Clinical examples and procedural descriptions
Typical patient examples and corresponding procedural descriptions illustrating the kinds of clinical encounters addressed by the new vaccine administration codes. Serves as contextual guidance without replacing the full article.
What You Will Learn
- How the article frames recent COVID-19 vaccine coding updates in CPT guidance
- Which general categories of vaccine product and administration changes are discussed
- How the article organizes scenario-based guidance by vaccine brand and patient age
- What appendix and terminology updates are highlighted
- Where the article points readers for current federal and CPT reference information
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Billing and reimbursement staff
- Clinical documentation specialists
- Practice managers
- Immunization workflow staff
- Compliance teams
Codes Discussed
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