Reader Question: Out of Office Immunizations

Question: Is there a CPT code for immunizations that were given outside of the physician office setting?

Michigan Subscriber

Answer: Codes 90476-90748 in the Medicine, Vaccines/Toxoids section of the CPT manual are used to identify specific vaccine products only, and are intended to specify the type of immunization the provider administered to the patient. Codes 90471-90472 are used for the administration of those products. Only the provider who performed the service, in this case, administration of a vaccine, is allowed to bill for the product and service. This means you cannot bill for an immunization that was given by someone other than a provider within your practice. But if the immunization supplies and pharmaceuticals were provided by your practice and administered by a provider within your practiceyet not within his or her office settingthe CPT codes (90476-90458) are still appropriate.

- Published on 2000-08-01