Highmark Medicare Services - A CMS Contractor - ISO 9001:2000 Certified
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NOTE: This is a PREVIOUS VERSION. A more current version of this document is available.

Contractor Information

Contractor Name:

Highmark Medicare Services

Contractor Number:

12102, 12202, 12302

Contractor Type:

MAC Part A & B

Article Information

Article Database ID Number

A47549

Article Type

Article

Key Article

No

Article Title

Use of Vaccines or Inoculations for Treatment of Injury or Exposure

Contractor’s Determination Number

A47549

Primary Geographic Jurisdiction

Maryland, District of Columbia, DELAWARE

Original Article Effective Date

07/11/2008

Article Revision Effective Date

N/A

Article Ending Effective Date

N/A

Article Text

The CMS Medicare Benefit Policy Manual (IOM 100-02), Chapter 15, Section 50.4.4.2, states the following regarding the use of Immunizations: “Vaccinations or inoculations are excluded as immunizations unless they are directly related to the treatment of an injury or direct exposure to a disease or condition, such as anti-rabies treatment, tetanus antitoxin or booster vaccine, botulin antitoxin, antivenin sera, or immune globulin. In the absence of injury or direct exposure, preventive immunization (vaccination or inoculation) against such diseases as smallpox, polio, diphtheria, etc., is not covered. However, pneumococcal, hepatitis B, and influenza virus vaccines are exceptions to this rule.” It further states: “In cases where a vaccination or inoculation is excluded from coverage, related charges are also not covered.”

Coding Guidelines

Use of a vaccine or inoculation by a provider for the treatment of an injury or direct exposure, as described above, should be indicated by the use of the AT modifier on the submitted claim.

Refer to LCD Database # L27473 for additional information concerning drugs and biologicals.  Medicare Part B providers should also refer to the Part B Reference Manual, Chapter 25, Preventive Services, for additional information about immunizations.

Coverage Topic

Immunizations, Vaccinations

Coding Information

CPT/HCPCS Codes

Bill Type Codes

Contractors may specify Bill Types to help providers identify those Bill Types typically used to report this service. Absence of a Bill Type does not guarantee that the policy does not apply to that Bill Type. Complete absence of all Bill Types indicates that coverage is not influenced by Bill Type and the policy should be assumed to apply equally to all claims.

13x

Hospital-outpatient (HHA-A also) (under OPPS 13X must be used for ASC claims submitted for OPPS payment -- eff. 7/00)

71x

Clinic-rural health

Revenue Codes

Contractors may specify Revenue Codes to help providers identify those Revenue Codes typically used to report this service. In most instances Revenue Codes are purely advisory; unless specified in the policy services reported under other Revenue Codes are equally subject to this coverage determination. Complete absence of all Revenue Codes indicates that coverage is not influenced by Revenue Code and the policy should be assumed to apply equally to all Revenue Codes.

0636

Drugs requiring specific identification-detailed coding (eff 3/92)

 

General Information

Other Comments

Additional CMS Manual guidance is found in the CMS IOM Pub. 100-04, Chapter 17, Section 10.

Revision History

Revision History Number

A47549

Revision History Explanation

DateArticle #Description

05/23/2008

A47549

Article to become effective 07/11/2008 for Maryland Part B, DCMA Part B and Delaware Part B.

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