CPT
90471 — Immunization administration, single vaccine
ACA-covered vaccines should be free, including the admin fee.
Critical care
99292 — Critical care, each additional 30 minutes
Add-on code to 99291 for each additional 30 minutes of critical care beyond the first 74 minutes.
- Typical setting: ICU, ED, trauma bay, or any critical care setting
- National avg charge (illustrative): Insurance allowed $108–$160 per unit.
- Most-disputed reason: Used without 99291 anchor, or units inflated beyond actual time.
What it means
What 99292 actually means
CPT 99292 is the add-on code reported alongside 99291 for each additional 30 minutes of critical care services beyond the first 74 minutes. It's billed in 30-minute increments — 75–104 minutes total = 99291 + 99292 × 1; 105–134 minutes = 99291 + 99292 × 2; and so on.
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).
- Billed without 99291 (which is required as the anchor code).
- Multiple 99292 units billed without total time documented in the chart.
- Time aggregated across multiple physicians — each provider should bill their own time.
If you see 99292 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 99292 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 99292 on a bill.
99292 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
Can two doctors both bill 99292 on the same patient?
Each provider can only bill for their own documented critical care time, and they cannot overlap. If two intensivists both spent 90 minutes with the patient at different times, each can bill independently. If they were both in the room at the same time, only one can bill that time.
Don't pay 99292 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.