Practice Management Alert

Question: I bill for a pediatrician. Some patients' parents are requesting that their children receive the H1N1 flu vaccine this fall. What product code would we use?

New York Subscriber

Answer: You would report the H1N1 flu product with the general pandemic vaccine code 90663 (Influenza virus vaccine, pandemic formulation), according to an AMA Fact Sheet On Reporting For H1N1. "Report CPT code 90663 in conjunction with the immunization administration code 90470 (H1N1 immunization administration [intramuscular, intranasal], including counseling when performed). Providers will be paid for 2009 H1N1 vaccine administration," states the fact sheet available at www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/362/ama-fact-sheet-h1n1-reporting.pdf.

Beware: The Federal Drug Administration has not yet approved the swine flu vaccine, which is not included in the traditional influenza vaccines. Therefore, 90663 is not listed on the 2008 Average Sales Price file.