CPT
90471 — Immunization administration, single vaccine
ACA-covered vaccines should be free, including the admin fee.
Vaccines
90716 — Varicella virus vaccine , live, subcutaneous
This is the chickenpox vaccine, given to children typically at 12–15 months and 4–6 years of age, and to adults who have not had chickenpox.
- Typical setting: Pediatrician's office, clinic
- National avg charge (illustrative): $130–$175 per dose
- Most-disputed reason: Billing 90716 when the MMRV combination was given (use 90710 for the combined measles-mumps-rubella-varicella vaccine)
What it means
What 90716 actually means
This is the chickenpox vaccine, given to children typically at 12–15 months and 4–6 years of age, and to adults who have not had chickenpox. It is a live vaccine given by injection under the skin.
Common errors with this code
What goes wrong on real bills.
Most bills that look correct still contain at least one of these issues. Up to 49% of medical bills contain errors (CFPB).
- Billing 90716 when the MMRV combination was given (use 90710 for the combined measles-mumps-rubella-varicella vaccine)
- Billing two doses per visit without clinical documentation supporting two separate injections
- Not billing a separate administration code (90471 or 90460)
If you see 90716 on your bill
Three steps before paying.
1. Get the itemized bill. If your statement only shows a summary, request the CPT-level itemized bill before paying. Generate the request language →
2. Cross-check against the EOB. Compare what your insurer's Explanation of Benefits says you owe versus what the hospital is asking. They disagree more often than people think. Read the bill-vs-EOB guide →
3. Run a free Bill Scan. Upload the bill (and EOB if you have it) and BillBusted will flag the most likely issues with this specific code in your specific state. Run free scan →
Related codes
Other codes in this category.
People who land on 90716 often also see these adjacent codes on the same bill.
CPT
90472 — Immunization admin; each additional vaccine
Vaccine — admin (90471) is separate from the vaccine product code.
CPT
90651 — Human papillomavirus vaccine types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58, nonavalent , IM
Vaccine — admin (90471) is separate from the vaccine product code.
CPT
90670 — Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, 13 valent , IM
Vaccine — admin (90471) is separate from the vaccine product code.
CPT
90671 — Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, 15 valent , IM
Vaccine — admin (90471) is separate from the vaccine product code.
CPT
90677 — Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, 20 valent , IM
Vaccine — admin (90471) is separate from the vaccine product code.
Related BillBusted guides
Plain-English reads if you see 90716 on a bill.
90716 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
What does 90716 usually cost?
$130–$175 per dose. Costs vary by region, payer contract, and whether the service was performed in a hospital outpatient department (which adds a facility fee) versus a free-standing clinic.
What's the most common billing error on 90716?
Billing 90716 when the MMRV combination was given (use 90710 for the combined measles-mumps-rubella-varicella vaccine)
What should I do if I see 90716 on my bill?
Request the itemized bill and the matching EOB from your insurer. Compare the units/quantity billed against what you actually received. Run a free BillBusted scan to flag the most likely errors specific to 90716 before paying.
Don't pay 90716 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.