Question

Coding for Vaccines Vaccines are common procedures within pediatrics and internal medicine. Consider flu or pneumonia season! As our readings and videos have identified, medical coders need to accurately interpret a patient’s medical record to know exactly what the toxoid was that was administered to the patient, as well as code for the administration of the vaccine. Review the following patient scenario and answer each prompt: An 8-year-old male patient is accompanied by his mother to see the pediatrician for a poliomyelitis vaccine performed intramuscularly (IM). The physician’s assistance evaluates the established patient and administers the vaccine to the child. Apply your understanding of Medicine section coding Include the following aspects in the discussion: Identify the vaccine code for this service Provide the administration code for the service Compare your codes to classmates Discuss why vaccine codes are unique

Answer 1

1. Vaccine administration code for Poliomyelitis vaccine is 90713.

2. The pediatric immunization administarion code is 90460.

3. The 90460 code is used when the physician is present and performs face-to-face counselling to the caregiver or patient.This code can only be used for patients through age 18. Code 90471 is usedwhen the drug is administered by a medical assistant or nurse and the patient does not see the physicisn yet.

4. Vaccine codes are reported per vaccine/toxoid component. CPT defines a component for these purposes as each antigen in a vaccine that prevents diseases caused by one organism.Combination vaccines are those vaccines that contain multiple vaccine component.This is the reason for vaccine codes uniqueness.