Summary & Overview
CPT 90717: Yellow Fever Vaccine, Subcutaneous Administration
CPT code 90717 designates administration of a live yellow fever vaccine by subcutaneous injection. As a specific immunization code, it is used in outpatient and ambulatory settings — including travel medicine and public health clinics — to document delivery of a vaccine intended to prevent yellow fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease with international travel implications. Nationally, vaccine administration codes like 90717 matter for public health surveillance, travel medicine service lines, and payer coverage policies that affect access and billing practices.
Key payers in this context include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical context for yellow fever vaccination, common billing and documentation considerations, and the types of benchmarks and policy updates typically relevant to immunization billing. The publication summarizes payer coverage patterns, coding guidance, and common modifiers used with vaccine administration (data on specific payer rates and benchmarks: Data not available in the input).
This report is intended for billing managers, practice administrators, and clinicians involved in immunization delivery and revenue cycle operations who need a concise reference for coding and payer considerations related to CPT code 90717.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 90717 covers administration of a live virus vaccine given subcutaneously to protect the patient against yellow fever. This service is a vaccine administration encounter intended to provide active immunization prior to travel or for occupational and public health indications.
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Service type: Vaccine administration (live, subcutaneous)
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Typical site of service: Outpatient clinic, travel medicine clinic, public health clinic, or other ambulatory care settings where routine immunizations are provided.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 34-year-old traveler presents to an outpatient travel clinic for pre-travel evaluation prior to an upcoming trip to a yellow fever endemic region in sub-Saharan Africa. The nurse or medical assistant reviews immunization history and verifies there is no contraindication to live viral vaccination (e.g., severe allergy to a vaccine component, immunocompromise, or age restrictions). The provider discusses risks and benefits, obtains informed consent, screens for pregnancy and current immune-suppressing medications, and documents the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (Yellow Card) as required by destination countries. The provider administers the live yellow fever vaccine subcutaneously, observes the patient for 15–30 minutes for immediate adverse reactions, documents lot number and site, and issues travel documentation. Typical site of service is an outpatient clinic, travel medicine clinic, public health department, or urgent care setting. Billing uses 90717 for the vaccine administration; relevant modifiers may be appended per payer rules (for example, to indicate services furnished in a facility, unusual procedural services, or patient status).
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | Standard primary procedure line (no modifier) | Use when no special modifier is applicable and the service is billed normally. |