Standalone Immunization Counseling

Pediatricians play a vital role in guiding families through immunization counseling, which is essential for nurturing healthy children. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) consistently advocates for payment for pediatricians and pediatric specialists for the time they spend educating families about the risks and benefits of following the AAP-recommended immunization schedule. 

It's important to acknowledge that patients, parents, and caregivers may decline immunizations for a variety of reasons, including hesitancy, cultural beliefs, or specific health circumstances that may require postponement. Unfortunately, until now, payment for this crucial service has been limited due to the absence of specific CPT codes.

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Committee on Coding and Nomenclature (COCN) and AAP staff, four new codes were added to the CPT code set. 

New CPT Codes

Additional information such as coding guidelines, payment tips, and FAQs can be found on our standalone immunization counseling factsheet on the AAP coding and valuation site.

The AAP has published this letter to payers that supports payment of this essential service in pediatrics. The Payer Advocacy Advisory Committee (PAAC) is actively engaging payers to ensure coverage and payment of
codes 90482-90484. 

For questions and/or payment issues, visit the Coding and Payment Hotline, and our dedicated staff will research the issue and provide valuable feedback.

Additional Resources

• Vaccine Financing and Coding
• Child Health Finance and Payment Strategy
• Payment Advocacy by the AAP

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