CPT 2017: Dont

Miss Big Vaccine

Descriptor Changes

Erik J.
THE CODING INSTITUTE | DURHAM, NC

CPT 2017: Dont Miss Big Vaccine Descriptor Changes

Description: This article throws light on some of the important vaccine CPT code
changes going into effect on January 1, 2017, including revisions to vaccine
descriptors, new influenza virus code, and some key changes for pediatric practices.
Flu vaccines will no longer be based on age.
With the New Year just a couple of months away, its time to update yourself with
the CPT 2017 changes that will affect pediatrics. In this article we take a look at
some of the anticipated AMA CPT code changes additions, revisions, and
deletions that you cannot overlook.
Vaccine Age Specifics No Longer Applicable
As with every year, you will find some significant vaccination code changes in CPT
2017. Till now, coding vaccines based on the patients age has been a cake walk
you could simply match the vaccine descriptor to the patients birth date and choose
the right code. But thats about to change effective Jan. 1, 2017 as your coding will
not be dependent on the patients age anymore rather several vaccine codes will
change to coding based on the dosage of the immunization that you administer.
While reporting a trivalent flu vaccine without preservatives, you currently use
90655 for patients who are under three years of age, and 90656 for patients over
three years. But this will no longer be the case starting Jan. 1, you will use 90655
when the physician administers 0.25 mL vaccine, and 90656 for vaccines of 0.5 mL
or more.
New virus vaccine code: You will also find a new code for quadrivalent influenza
virus vaccine which is derived from cell cultures (antibiotic-free), and prepared for
intramuscular use. Moreover, you will find a change in the descriptor to the code
90661.
There are two more new vaccine codes going into effect on Jan. 1, 2017, but will not
appear in the CPT book until 2018: 90682 and 90750.
Apart from these new codes, you will also find some descriptor changes to current
vaccine codes, including 90655, 90656, 90657, 90658, 90661, 90685, 90686, 90687,
and 90688.

CPT 2017: Dont Miss Big Vaccine Descriptor Changes

Note: These changes are based on the preliminary list of AMA CPT codes and
further changes may take place before we have the final codes. Keep looking up your
updated code books for the final codes and details on correct use of your new code
choices.
Erase 99420 from Your List
Apart from these vaccine code changes, the latest CPT also strikes off a code often
used by pediatric practices for maternal depressions along with other health risks
including concussion screening 99420.
Instead, when you perform screenings, youll select from among the following two
new codes, which go into effect on Jan. 1: 96160 and 96161. These codes will more
precisely show who the subject of the assignment is, and may well be easier to get
reimbursed when reported with an E/M code as compared to the code thats making
an exit. But note that its still not clear on the type of RVUs for these new codes.
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