Internal Medicine Coding Alert

Question: Can I report 99211 along with 90471 or G0008 when the nurse administers a flu shot?

Ohio Subscriber

Answer: You could report 99211 (Office or other outpatient visit for the E/M of an established patient ...) only if the nurse provided a service above and beyond the flu shot administration.
 
For example, the patient has dizziness (780.4) after the flu shot, so the nurse takes the patient's vital signs and monitors the patient until the dizziness subsides. In that case, the nurse has provided a service above and beyond the flu shot.
 
Otherwise, report either 90471 (Immunization administration [includes percutaneous, intradermal, subcutaneous, intramuscular and jet injection[s]; one vaccine [single or combination vaccine/toxoid]) or G0008 (Administration of influenza virus vaccine when no physician fee schedule service on the same day) without an E/M code.