AMA new update to COVID-19 vaccine CPT codes

The American Medical Association (AMA) today announced that the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT^®) code set is being updated by the CPT Editorial Panel to include vaccine and administration codes that are unique to the COVID-19 vaccine candidate under development by Janssen Pharmaceutica, a division of Johnson & Johnson.

The new CPT codes will be effective for use on the condition that the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine receives approval or emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The AMA is publishing the new CPT codes now to ensure electronic systems across the U.S. health care system are updated and prepared for the prospect of FDA approval or authorization for the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.

The Janssen COVID-19 vaccine joins other COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca that were previously issued unique CPT codes to clinically distinguish each vaccine and immunization administration for better tracking, reporting and analysis that supports data-driven planning and allocation. To help ensure accurate coding and reporting of COVID-19 vaccines and immunization services, the AMA offers a new resource to help identify the appropriate CPT code combination for the type and dose of COVID-19 vaccine provided to each patient. The new COVID-19 vaccine coder resource will be updated to include the new CPT codes created for the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.

For quick reference, the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine has been assigned the following Category I CPT code and long descriptor:

91303      Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (coronavirus disease [COVID-19]) vaccine, DNA, spike protein, adenovirus type 26 (Ad26) vector, preservative free, 5×10¹⁰ viral particles/0.5mL dosage, for intramuscular use

In addition to the new vaccine-specific product CPT code, the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine has been issued a vaccine administration CPT code that is specific to its one-dose immunization schedule. This CPT code is used to report the actual work of administering the vaccine, in addition to all necessary counseling provided to patients or caregivers and updating the electronic record.

For quick reference, the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine has been assigned the following vaccine administration CPT code and long descriptor:

0031A     Immunization administration by intramuscular injection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (coronavirus disease [COVID-19]) vaccine, DNA, spike protein, adenovirus type 26 (Ad26) vector, preservative free, 5×10¹⁰ viral particles/0.5mL dosage, single dose

Short, medium and long descriptors for all the new vaccine-specific CPT codes can be accessed on the AMA website, along with several other recent modifications to the CPT code set that have helped streamline the public health response to the SAR-CoV-2 virus and the COVID-19 disease.

Reference:

https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-announces-update-covid-19-vaccine-cpt-codes