SBCMS News/Media

Updated COVID-19 Vaccines Providing Protection Against Omicron Variant Available at No Cost

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The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), through CMS announced that people with Medicare, Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage, private insurance coverage, or no health coverage can get COVID-19 vaccines, including the updated Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines, at no cost, for as long as the federal government continues purchasing and distributing these COVID-19 vaccines.

The FDA has authorized the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech updated vaccines that target the original COVID-19 viral strain and two Omicron variants (BA.4/BA.5) that are currently the most prevalent in the U.S. Individuals are eligible for their updated vaccine shot at least two months after completing at least their primary vaccination series (two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax, or one dose of Johnson & Johnson)—regardless of how many monovalent COVID-19 boosters they have received to date.

CMS issued 4 new CPT codes effective August 31, 2022:

Code 91312 for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent Product:

• Long descriptor: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (coronavirus disease [COVID-19]) vaccine, mRNA-LNP, bivalent spike protein, preservative free, 30 mcg/0.3 mL dosage, tris-sucrose formulation, for intramuscular use
• Short descriptor: SARSCOV2 VAC BVL 30MCG/0.3ML

Code 91313 for Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent Product:

• Long descriptor: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (coronavirus disease [COVID-19]) vaccine, mRNA-LNP, spike protein, bivalent, preservative free, 50 mcg/0.5 mL dosage, for intramuscular use
• Short descriptor: SARSCOV2 VAC BVL 50MCG/0.5ML

Code 0124A for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent - Administration – Booster Dose:

• Long descriptor: Immunization administration by intramuscular injection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (coronavirus disease [COVID-19]) vaccine, mRNA-LNP, bivalent spike protein, preservative free, 30 mcg/0.3 mL dosage, tris-sucrose formulation, booster dose
• Short descriptor: ADM SARSCV2 BVL 30MCG/.3ML B

Code 0134A for Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent - Administration – Booster Dose:

• Long descriptor: Immunization administration by intramuscular injection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (coronavirus disease [COVID-19]) vaccine, mRNA-LNP, spike protein, bivalent, preservative free, 50 mcg/0.5 mL dosage, booster dose
• Short descriptor: ADM SARSCV2 BVL 50MCG/.5ML B

Visit the COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Toolkit for more information, and get the most current list of billing codes, payment allowances, and effective dates. Note: You may need to refresh your browser if you recently visited their webpage.

See the full news alert.