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CPT code 90481: SARS-CoV-2 vaccine administration, each additional component2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports administration of each additional SARS-CoV-2 vaccine component after the initial or only component, with 90480 identifying the initial component.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities

Medicare rate · 90481

SARS-CoV-2 vaccine administration, each additional component

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
0
Total RVUs
0.00
Global days
ZZZ

National rate · 2026

—

Not priced in the facility setting.

See every locality for 90481 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 90481 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 90481 covers

90481 identifies administration of an additional component of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. It describes the administration service rather than the vaccine product. The code is distinct from 90480, which identifies administration of the initial or only SARS-CoV-2 vaccine component. Report 90481 for each additional component administered after the initial component, so the unit count follows the number of additional components. This code is specific to SARS-CoV-2 vaccine components, while general immunization administration codes describe vaccine administration in broader terms. Each reported unit corresponds to one additional component.

Medicare assigns status X, a statutory exclusion because this is not a physician service under the Medicare statute. The physician fee schedule does not pay the code. When covered, it is paid under another fee schedule or payment system. The initial or only component is reported with 90480; 90481 identifies each additional component.

This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.

Where 90481 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

90481 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailableUnavailable
AlaskaUnavailableUnavailable
ArizonaUnavailableUnavailable
ArkansasUnavailableUnavailable
Atlanta, GAUnavailableUnavailable
Austin, TXUnavailableUnavailable
Bakersfield, CAUnavailableUnavailable
Baltimore area, MDUnavailableUnavailable
Beaumont, TXUnavailableUnavailable
Brazoria, TXUnavailableUnavailable

90481 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

View every state and territory as a table
90481 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 90481 rate is calculated

Each of 90481’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.

How the rate is built · 90481

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

0.0000

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$0.00

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 90481

The CMS indicators that decide how 90481 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 90481

SARS-CoV-2 vaccine administration, each additional component

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodZZZAdd-on code: falls within the primary procedure’s global period.
Multiple procedures9The concept doesn’t apply.
Bilateral (modifier 50)9The concept doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)9The concept doesn’t apply.
Co-surgeons (62)9The concept doesn’t apply.
Team surgery (66)9The concept doesn’t apply.
Professional/technical9The concept doesn’t apply.

90481 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 90481

    SARS-CoV-2 vaccine administration, each additional component0 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 90480

    COVID-19 vaccine administration, initial or only component0.24 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 90472

    Vaccine administration, each additional vaccine0.15 wRVU

    $16.03

  • 90461

    Vaccine administration, each additional component0.18 wRVU

    $8.68

How to choose

90480COVID-19 vaccine administrationInitial or only component
90480 identifies the initial or only SARS-CoV-2 vaccine component administration. 90481 identifies each additional component.
90472Vaccine administrationEach additional vaccine
90472 identifies an additional vaccine administration in the general immunization-administration family; 90481 identifies an additional component of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.
90461Vaccine administrationEach additional component
90461 identifies an additional vaccine component in the immunization-administration-with-counseling family. 90481 is specific to SARS-CoV-2 vaccine component administration.

Codes related to 90481

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 90481
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Primary code
90480COVID-19 vaccine administration, initial or only componentIdentifies administration of the initial or only SARS-CoV-2 vaccine component.No office rate
Used instead
90461Vaccine administration, each additional componentIdentifies an additional vaccine component in the immunization-administration-with-counseling family.$8.19–$11.69
90472Vaccine administration, each additional vaccineIdentifies an additional vaccine administration rather than an additional SARS-CoV-2 vaccine component.$14.36–$21.15

90481 billing questions

Can 90481 be reported without 90480?

No. It identifies an additional SARS-CoV-2 vaccine component, while 90480 identifies the initial or only component.

How are units counted?

Report one unit for each additional SARS-CoV-2 vaccine component administered after the initial component.

How does 90481 differ from 90472?

90481 identifies an additional component of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. 90472 identifies an additional vaccine administration in the general immunization-administration family.

Does Medicare pay 90481 under the physician fee schedule?

No. Status X excludes it from the physician fee schedule. When covered, payment is under another fee schedule or payment system.

Is 90481 the vaccine product code?

No. It identifies administration of an additional vaccine component, not the vaccine product.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.

CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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