AMA approves new COVID-19 vaccine administration code

The American Medical Association’s (AMA) CPT Editorial Panel recently approved a new COVID-19 vaccine code, JustCoding reported. AMA approved the following administration code in its March meeting:

• 0174A, immunization administration of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARSCoV-2] [COVID-19] vaccine only

Coders should report 0174A in conjunction with the following vaccine product code:

• 91317, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (COVID-19) vaccine, mRNA-LNP, bivalent spike protein, preservative free, 3 mcg/0.2 mL dosage, diluent reconstituted, tris-sucrose formulation, for intramuscular use

The FDA amended its emergency use authorization for this booster vaccine to allow its administration for children aged 6 months to 4 years old.

However, coders should not report 0174A with COVID-19 administration CPT codes 91300, 91305, 91307, 91308, 91312, and 91315, per the parenthetical notes in AMA’s March CPT Assistant.

The panel meeting summary also noted revisions of CPT guidelines for the “Medicine Services, Immunization Administration for Vaccines/Toxoids, and the Vaccines, Toxoid” subsections. These guideline revisions, as well as vaccine administration code 0174A, became effective on March 14.

The CPT Editorial Panel released its Summary of Panel Actions from meetings in February, which summarized accepted and deleted revisions to the CPT codes, HCPCS Level II codes, and Category III CPT codes for July 2023, January 2024, and January 2025.

Revenue integrity professionals can visit the AMA website for more information on COVID-19 vaccine and administration codes.

Editor’s note: Find more NAHRI resources on COVID-19 here.