Influenza vaccines are now available for the 2021-2022 season. Here’s what you need to know:
- All flu vaccines this year are quadrivalent and are designed to protect against four different flu viruses. The CDC recommends an annual flu vaccination for everyone 6 months of age and older, with rare exceptions.
- Flu vaccines and COVID-19 vaccines can be given at the same time.
- Here is a list of influenza vaccines available for 2021-2022, along with associated age ranges, CPT codes and supply methods for each. It also indicates which vaccines are egg-based.
- Medicare reimbursement rates are available at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Pricing for 2021-2022.
- For general information about the 2021-2022 influenza vaccine, read the CDC’s FAQs.
- Flu vaccine administration CPT codes remain unchanged for 2021-2022.
For Medicare patients, use the administration code G0008.
For non-Medicare patients:
If the patient receiving the influenza vaccine is 18 years of age or younger and receives counseling from a physician or other qualified health care professional (e.g., nurse practitioner), report 90460.
- 90460 – Immunization administration through 18 years of age via any route of administration, w/ counseling by physician or other qualified health care professional; first vaccine/toxoid component.
However, if both of the above criteria are not met, the immunization administration (IA) code reported must come from the 90471-90474 series.
- 90471 – IA (includes percutaneous, intradermal, subcutaneous or intramuscular injections); one vaccine (single or combination vaccine/toxoid).
- +90472 – IA; each additional vaccine (single or combination vaccine/toxoid) (List separately in addition to 90460, 90471 or 90473.)
- 90473 – IA (by intranasal or oral route); one vaccine (single or combination vaccine/toxoid).
- +90474 – IA; each additional vaccine (single or combination vaccine/toxoid) (List separately in addition to 90460, 90471 or 90473.)
Other considerations to keep in mind when reporting codes 90471-90474:
- If you administer an injection of the influenza vaccine only, report 90471.
- If you administer an influenza vaccine in addition to other vaccines, report the influenza injection with 90472.
- Note that code 90471 or 90473 cannot be reported in conjunction with 90460. Therefore, if during a single encounter, a patient receives multiple vaccines and there is counseling on all but the influenza vaccine, report 90472 or 90474 in addition to 90460 and 90461 as appropriate.
