2022 CPT Code Updates Feature 24 COVID-19 Vaccine-Related Codes in New Code Set
2022 CPT Code Updates Feature 24 COVID-19 Vaccine-Related Codes in New Code Set
The American Medical Association (AMA) have released the 2022 CPT code updates. The organization will make the CPT code book available in late October or early November (AMA, 2021).
Over 400 editorial changes are included in the 2022 edition, with 249 new codes, 63 deletions, and 93 revisions. These updates also incorporate 24 COVID-19 vaccine-specific codes that allow for reporting and tracking of immunizations and administration services. Sign up for the 2022 CPT Updates courses here.
A Selection of the New CPT Codes
The CPT code updates include new Technology Category III codes and expansions in the Proprietary Laboratory Analysis (PLA) subsection in the Pathology and Laboratory section. These additions are responsible for more than 40% of the changes for 2022. Other additions include five codes for therapeutic remote monitoring and principal care management codes for case management services. Appendix R for Digital Medicine – Services Taxonomy is new for 2022. This appendix also includes an educational tool for classifying digital medical services.
AMA will include all of the codes for COVID-19 vaccine and administration services developed to date in the printed version of the 2022 CPT system. Furthermore, AMA started releasing these codes in November 2020 as the first COVID-19 vaccines became available. These codes were accessible online.
AMA has also added codes as new vaccines and dosage schedules have been developed by manufacturers. For example, AMA released the administration codes for the third dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine in August (AMA, 2021).
Reporting of these specific codes for each COVID-19 vaccine and dosing schedule allows for better tracking of the vaccinations. Appendix Q features a comprehensive listing of the codes. This also includes vaccine code descriptions, administration code, manufacturer information, vaccine name and National Drug Code (NDC), and dosing intervals (AMA, 2021). The AMA has developed a vaccine code finder tool to assist with accurate code selection for COVID-19 vaccines.
A comprehensive review of the 2022 CPT Updates is now available from YES HIM Education. The courses cover the 2022 Surgery Section & Category III Codes, the E/M, Medicine, and Other Sections, and the Hospital OPPS and APC changes. The AMA has set the implementation of the codes for January 1, 2022. Stay tuned to the YES Blog for more updates.
Ann Zeisset, RHIT, CCS, CCS-P, co-authored this article with Teri Jorwic, MPH, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, FAHIMA.
