Posts Tagged ‘Flu’

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of CSL Limited’s 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine to include children ages 6 months and older. The vaccine was previously approved only for use in adults, ages 18 years and older. The expanded approval also covers the Australian company’s seasonal flu vaccine.

The vaccines will be available in single-dose, preservative-free, pre-filled syringes, and multi-dose vials.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved, Oct. 19, the use of the seasonal influenza vaccine Fluarix for children ages 3 to 17 years. This vaccine, which contains inactivated (killed) influenza A and B viruses, was previously approved for use in adults, ages 18 years and older.

Read more »

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Oct. 23, in response to a request from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it has issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the investigational antiviral drug peramivir intravenous (IV) in certain adult and pediatric patients with confirmed or suspected 2009 H1N1 influenza infection who are admitted to a hospital.

Read more »

If you’re confused about carrier rules for coding H1N1 vaccines, you’re not alone. Choosing H1N1 codes  in regard to Medicare and private insurance guidelines, and when to use a modifier can leave you dumbfounded. To answer your H1N1 questions, here’s the low-down on Medicare policies vs. private insurer policies.

Read more »

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated, Oct. 14, its Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Q&As to address H1N1-related questions circling among the health care industry. Read more »

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is preparing to launch the first government-sponsored clinical trial to determine what dose of the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine is needed to induce a protective immune response in people with asthma, especially severe asthmatics. The study is cosponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), both part of NIH. Read more »

A recent update to the ICD-9-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting gives coders a choice of diagnosis codes to differentiate between the two types of influenza virus patients may present with this year. Read more »

Prescribers and pharmacists should be alert for potential dosing errors with Tamiflu for oral suspension. The dosing dispenser packaged with Tamiflu has markings only in 30, 45, and 60 mg, whereas health care providers usually write prescriptions for liquid medicines in milliliters (mL) or teaspoons. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received reports of errors where dosing instructions for the patient do not match the dosing dispenser. Read more »

The American Medical Association (AMA) has created a new CPT^® code specific to vaccine administration and revised an existing code to include the H1N1 vaccine. Read more »

Accurate payment for seasonal influenza (flu) virus vaccines requires precise coding. And to accomplish that, coders have to pay attention to details.

“Make sure you code correct route, correct product, correct ICD-9,” says Cathy Gray, RHIT, CCS, CPC-I, CCC, CGIC, with Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, in a recent issue of Pediatric Coding Alert.

Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Is the flu product the patient receiving preservative-free?

Preservative-free products cost more and, as such, reimburse at a higher rate. Report the wrong product code and your office loses money.

2. How old is the patient?

You should also base your product code selection on the patient’s age. Vaccines administered to individuals 3 years of age and older pay more than those given to children 6-35 months.

3. What came first, the shot or the spray?

The order in which you code services can affect how much your practice is reimbursed. If a patient receives an intranasal flu vaccine at the same time as an injectable vaccine, for example, code the injectable first.

4. Which vaccine administration code set should I use?

You should use the administration code set that best represents the patient’s age and physician (or other health care professional) counseling, advises Pediatric Coding Alert. Consult your payer to confirm whether it pays more for 90465 – +90468 than for the comparable 90471 – +90474 code set.

Read the complete Pediatric Coding Alert article, entitled “4 Coding & Billing Steps Boost Your Flu Prevention Pay by $38.”