AMA releases CPT codes for monkeypox tests and vaccines

The American Medical Association (AMA) released the Category I vaccine product codes for monkeypox tests and vaccines. The organization made them effective immediately upon their approval by the CPT Editorial Panel on July 26. The new codes are scheduled to appear in the in the 2024 CPT Manual.

The monkeypox test is designed to detect and report the orthopoxvirus “by nucleic acid using amplified probe technique.” The test is described by new product code 87593 (infectious agent detection by nucleic acid [DNA or RNA]; orthopoxvirus [e.g., monkeypox virus, cowpox virus, vaccinia virus), amplified probe technique, each]), JustCoding reported. The new CPT product codes for the vaccines will appear in the Vaccines, Toxoids section. These codes and their descriptions are:

• 90611, smallpox and monkeypox vaccine, attenuated vaccinia virus, live, non-replicating, preservative free, 0.5 mL dosage, suspension, for subcutaneous use
• 90622, vaccinia (smallpox) virus vaccine, live, lyophilized, 0.3 mL dosage, for percutaneous use

The product reported with code 90611 is called JYNNEOS, Imvamune, or Imnavex, and is a combination of the smallpox and monkeypox vaccine. It has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for patients at least 18 years old and requires the administration of two doses, 28 days apart.

The product reported with code 90622 is called the ACAM2000 smallpox vaccine, which contains the live virus. It has been approved by the FDA for patients older than 12 months and requires the administration of only one dose.

For more information about these new product codes or to read clinical examples for their application, see the July update from CPT Assistant.