COVID-19 Vaccines and Coverage

December 21, 2020
Updated March 11, 2021
Updated Sept. 15, 2021

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) awarded an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to three companies for their vaccines: Pfizer Learn more about third-party links on Dec. 11, 2020, Moderna Learn more about third-party links on Dec. 18, 2020, and Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson Learn more about third-party links on Feb. 27, 2021. On Aug. 23, 2021, the FDA granted full approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for ages 16 and older. The Pfizer vaccine, known as Comirnaty is also available under EUA for ages 12-15. See the FDA website Learn more about third-party links for prescribing information.

Booster Shots and Additional Doses: The federal government requires us to cover the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost share through the end of the public health emergency (PHE). This includes COVID-19 booster shots and additional doses. The CDC provides guidance Learn more about third-party links on the administration of the vaccine. At the end of the PHE, we will provide updates on our coverage.

Initially, the federal government will pay for the vaccine Learn more about third-party links. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, or self-funded groups, will cover administration of the vaccine as noted below. The administration of additional doses and boosters will be covered in the same way as the original doses of the vaccine during the PHE:

Fully insured:

  • Vaccine and administration covered as a preventive service with no cost-share to members at in-network providers.
  • Vaccine and administration covered with no cost-share to members if delivered at out-of-network providers through the end of the public health emergency.

Self-funded employer groups:

  • Non-grandfathered self-funded employer groups - vaccine and administration covered as a preventive service with no cost-share to members at in-network providers.
  • Vaccine and administration covered at no cost-share to members at out-of-network providers through the end of the public health emergency.
  • Self-funded employer groups that don’t cover preventive vaccines through their pharmacy benefit must cover the vaccine through their medical benefit.
  • Grandfathered plans are not required to cover preventive services, including the COVID-19 vaccine.

Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement

  • For 2020 and 2021, Medicare payment for the COVID-19 vaccine and its administration will be through the original fee-for-service Medicare program.
  • Submit claims for administering the COVID-19 vaccine to the CMS Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) using product-specific codes for each vaccine approved.
  • Members will have no cost-sharing on vaccines through Dec. 31, 2021.

Medicaid

  • Most Medicaid members will have no cost-sharing on vaccines from in- and out-of-network providers. See the CMS Medicaid toolkit  for more details.

Reimbursement:

  • In-network providers will be reimbursed for the administration fee based on contracted rates.
  • Out-of-network providers will be reimbursed based on established OON reimbursement policy that follows Medicare rates.

Balance billing: Providers are prohibited from billing patients for the vaccine or its administration, including balance billing, if the provider received the vaccine at no cost from the government.

Coding claims: CMS and the American Medical Association (AMA) have identified the codes to use in submitting claims. For more information, see CMS’ guidanceLearn more about third-party links

When billing a vaccine administration code with an office visit, if the vaccine is not the primary purpose of the office visit, bill the vaccine on a separate claim.

Code

Use

Description

M0201

 Admin

Covid-19 vaccine administration inside a patient's home; reported only once per individual home per date of service when only covid-19 vaccine administration is performed at the patient's home

D1701

 Admin

Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine administration – first dose

D1702

 Admin

Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine administration – second dose

D1703

 Admin

Moderna Covid-19 vaccine administration – first dose

D1704

 Admin

Moderna Covid-19 vaccine administration – second dose

D1707

 Admin

Janssen COVID-19 vaccine administration

0001A

 Admin

Pfizer-Biontech Covid-19 Vaccine Administration – First Dose ADM SARSCOV2 30MCG/0.3ML 1ST

0002A

 Admin

Pfizer-Biontech Covid-19 Vaccine Administration – Second Dose ADM SARSCOV2 30MCG/0.3ML 2ND

0003A

 Admin

Immunization administration by intramuscular injection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (coronavirus disease [COVID-19]) vaccine, mRNA-LNP, spike protein, preservative free, 100 mcg/0.5 mL dosage; third dose

0011A

 Admin

Moderna Covid-19 Vaccine Administration – First Dose ADM SARSCOV2 100MCG/0.5ML1ST

0012A

 Admin

Moderna Covid-19 Vaccine Administration – Second Dose ADM SARSCOV2 100MCG/0.5ML2ND

00013A

 Admin

Immunization administration by intramuscular injection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (coronavirus disease [COVID-19]) vaccine, mRNA-LNP, spike protein, preservative free, 100 mcg/0.5 mL dosage; third dose

0031A

 Admin

Janssen/Johnson & Johnson - Immunization administration by intramuscular injection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (coronavirus disease [COVID-19]) vaccine, DNA, spike protein, adenovirus type 26 (Ad26) vector, preservative free, 5x1010 viral particles/0.5mL dosage, single dose

91300

 Vaccine

Pfizer-Biontech Covid-19 Vaccine SARSCOV2 VAC 30MCG/0.3ML IM

91301

 Vaccine

Moderna Covid-19 Vaccine SARSCOV2 VAC 100MCG/0.5ML IM

91303

 Vaccine

Janssen/Johnson & Johnson - Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (coronavirus disease [COVID-19]) vaccine, DNA, spike protein, adenovirus type 26 (Ad26) vector, preservative free, 5x10 viral particles/0.5mL dosage, for intramuscular use

Dosage: Candidate vaccines may require one or two doses. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses. The Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine is one dose. Guidance on additional doses is evolving. Follow CDC guidelines Learn more about third-party links.

More information:

  • CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program Interim Playbook for Jurisdiction Operations
  • Provider Relief Fund Learn more about third-party links– for reimbursement for administering the COVID-19 vaccine to the uninsured
  • CMS Medicaid Toolkit - Coverage and Reimbursement of COVID-19 Vaccines, Vaccine Administration, and Cost Sharing under Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and Basic Health Program
  • CMS guidance Learn more about third-party links on Medicare billing for the COVid-19 vaccine administration

We continue to monitor information provided by the CDC and other government and health officials. We’ll provide updates when we have them. For the latest information on COVID-19, we recommend visiting the CDC’s COVID-19 website Learn more about third-party links.

 

Learn more about third-party links By clicking this link, you will go to a new website/app (“site”). This new site may be offered by a vendor or an independent third party. The site may also contain non-Medicare related information. In addition, some sites may require you to agree to their terms of use and privacy policy.