The “early release” of the Category I vaccine product codes prior to publication of CPT® 2006 was approved by the CPT Editorial Panel. In recognition of the public health interest in vaccine products, the Panel has agreed that new vaccine product codes should be published prior to FDA approval. These codes are indicated with the (⚡) symbol and will be tracked by the AMA to monitor FDA approval status.
Once the FDA status changes to approval, the (⚡) symbol will be removed. The new vaccine product code(s) will be available through a biannual electronic release in January and July in a given CPT cycle to facilitate immunization reporting.
To facilitate immunization reporting, when applicable, the most recent new or revised vaccine product codes, resulting from recent Panel actions, will be published according to the Category I Vaccine Code Semi-Annual Early Release Schedule on July 1 and Jan. 1 in a given CPT cycle. However, an emergent/critical distribution and recommended administration of a vaccine for immediate use may necessitate an additional “electronic” publication date for a vaccine code apart from the established July 1 and Jan. 1 early release dates.
The vaccine product codes approved for expedited/emergent release will be published with the implementation date identified and will warrant a shortened implementation period of 3 months or less, in agreement with the agreed upon date by all stakeholders, and predicated on the urgency of the situation (vs. the standard 6-month implementation period).
Vaccine product codes that are approved at the October Panel meeting are released for “electronic” publication the following Jan. 1. Vaccine product codes that are approved at the February and May Panel meetings are released for publication on July 1 of each year.
The full set of vaccine codes, including those that have been approved in the annual production cycle, are included in the next CPT publication. Vaccine product codes approved for expedited/emergent release will be available via electronic publication outside of the standard semiannual release schedule, as defined above.
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Originally Published On: American Medical Association
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