AMA Prepares for COVID-19 Vaccine with Coding Updates
The American Medical Association (AMA) recently revealed updates to the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), helping the U.S. healthcare industry lay the administrative groundwork for an eventual COVID-19 vaccine.1
There are codes unique to two possible vaccines and other unique codes concerning administration of those vaccines. All the updates have been released now so healthcare leaders can update electronic systems; prepare to allocate vaccines properly; and track, report, and analyze related data.
“An effective national immunization program is key to bringing the coronavirus pandemic to an end,” AMA President Susan R. Bailey, MD, said in a statement.2 “Correlating each coronavirus vaccine with its own unique CPT code provides analytical advantages to help track, allocate, and optimize resources as an immunization program ramps up in the United States.”
Momentum is building toward a vaccine breakthrough, with the possibility multiple candidates could receive approval. For its part, the federal government has created Operation Warp Speed to provide funding for vaccine research and speed the process.3 Although the political pressure from the Trump White House is intense, large manufacturers are trying not to rush the research. Executives from nine companies have publicly committed to thorough testing to ensure proper safety.4
REFERENCES
- American Medical Association. COVID-19 CPT coding and guidance. Updated Nov. 10, 2020.
- American Medical Association. AMA announces vaccine-specific CPT codes for coronavirus immunizations. Nov. 10, 2020.
- HHS.gov. Fact sheet. Explaining Operation Warp Speed. Content last reviewed Nov. 30, 2020.
- Pfizer. Biopharma leaders unite to stand with science. Sept. 8, 2020.
The American Medical Association recently revealed updates to the Current Procedural Terminology, helping the U.S. healthcare industry lay the administrative groundwork for an eventual COVID-19 vaccine.
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