Internal Medicine Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Consider Payer Differences on Flu Shot Claims

Question: A 58-year-old established patient reports to the internist for a flu shot. The internist injects the patient with the vaccine (which contained preservatives). How should I report this encounter? Does it depend on the insurer I am filing to?

Delaware Subscriber

Answer: It absolutely depends on the payer. When you choose codes for the vaccine administration, remember that coding depends on whether the patient has Medicare insurance.

For private carriers, report the following codes:

• 90471 (Immunization administration [includes percutaneous, intradermal, subcutaneous, or intramuscular injections]; one vaccine [single or combination vaccine/toxoid]) for the flu shot.

• 90658 (Influenza virus vaccine, split virus, when administered to individuals 3 years of age and older, for intramuscular use) for the flu vaccine supply.

Remember Medicare G code: When the internist provides a Medicare patient with flu vaccine, report the following:

• G0008 (Administration of influenza virus vaccine) for the administration

• 90658 for the vaccine.

Other Articles in this issue of

Internal Medicine Coding Alert

View All