The American Medical Association (AMA) 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 a one-dose regimen of the COVID-19 vaccine candidate under development by Janssen Pharmaceutical, a division of Johnson & Johnson, according to a press release from the AMA.
The new CPT codes will be effective for use on the condition that the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine receives approval or emergency use authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the AMA said. The AMA said it is publishing the new CPT codes now to ensure electronic systems across the U.S. healthcare system are updated and prepared for the prospect of FDA approval or authorization for the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.
“Janssen’s single-dose COVID-19 vaccine would mark a big change from the double-dose vaccines currently available,” said AMA President Susan R. Bailey, MD. “The change will place greater importance on accurately reporting COVID-19 immunizations by vaccine type and dose to ensure patients complete the appropriate immunization schedule. Unique CPT codes that clinically distinguish each COVID-19 vaccine provide the needed informational precision to ensure optimal vaccine distribution and administration.”
The AMA said 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.
The CPT code for the Janssen vaccine is 91303, while the CPT code to indicate the one-dose regimen is code 0031A.
