Primary Care Coding Alert

Question: Should I report the new Menactra vaccine, the same way I code for a Menomune immunization?


Florida Subscriber

Answer: No and yes. You should assign different CPT codes for the new meningococcal vaccine than you do for a Menomune shot. But the same ICD-9 code applies to either immunization.

For a Menactra vaccination, you should report the product with these codes:

- CPT: 90734--Meningococcal conjugate vaccine, serogroups A, C, Y and W-135 (tetravalent), for intramuscular use 

- ICD-9: V03.89--Other specified vaccinations against single bacterial diseases; other specified vaccination.

When a nurse vaccinates a child (age 2-10) or an elderly patient (over age 55) against meningococcal disease using the old meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine, Menomune, report the shot with 90733 (Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine [any group(s)], for subcutaneous use) linked to V03.89 (Other specified vaccinations against single bacterial diseases; other specified vaccination).

You can still give Menomune (the older vaccine) to children between the ages of 2 and 10 years and people over age 55. The Food and Drug Administration approved the new quadravalent (A, C, Y and W135) meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4 or Menactra) for use in 11- to 55-year-olds. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that the following populations receive this new vaccine:

- the pre-adolescent visit (11- to 12-year-olds)

- teens entering high school, or 15-year-olds

- college freshmen living in dormitories.

Remember: Although the recommendations list the common times patients present for preventive medicine services (99383-99385 or 99393-99395), you can still give Menactra to children age 13 to 15. Any patient over 11 years old who has not had a meningitis immunization should receive one when he comes in for a well child exam.