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Assuring coverage with newly introduced vaccines: Perception, Program, & Financing. Alan R. Hinman, MD, MPH Subcommittee on Immunization Coverage June 7, 2006. Issues - 1. Several new vaccines recently, or about to be, introduced into routine schedule for young children and adolescents
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Assuring coverage with newly introduced vaccines:Perception, Program, & Financing Alan R. Hinman, MD, MPH Subcommittee on Immunization Coverage June 7, 2006
Issues - 1 • Several new vaccines recently, or about to be, introduced into routine schedule for young children and adolescents • Pneumococcal conjugate • Meningococcal conjugate • Rotavirus • Human papillomavirus
Issues - 2 • Newer vaccines more expensive than “traditional” vaccines • VFC vaccine cost to fully immunize a child • 1995 ~$150 • 2006 ~$850 (with rotavirus but without HPV) • 2008 >$1,000?
Issues - 3 3. Limited sources of financing for vaccines • Public • Section 317 • VFC • State/local government • Private • Insurance • Out-of-pocket
Issues - 4 • Meeting the increasing costs is a major challenge • VFC covers “automatically” • Insurance covers after a + short delay • 317 covers after significant delay • State/local governments may/may not cover after a significant delay (e.g., universal “light”) • Underinsured remain uncovered 5. Remember that vaccine price is not the only cost – reimbursement for administration
Issues - 5 • Recent expansion in number and costs of vaccines represents a major (but temporary) “bubble” • After HPV, there will be a time gap before additional new vaccines are introduced for universal use • If we don’t now fix the system we may face bigger problems in the future
Proposal - 1 • Subcommittee on Immunization Coverage should address the problem of insurance coverage/underinsurance for new vaccines • Define “underinsured” • Ascertain current prevalence of underinsured and likely projection for future • NIS now looking at underinsured • AHIP survey of members
Proposal - 2 • Determine attitudes/practices of employers/benefits managers/providers • Engage NBGH • Engage benefits managers • Engage providers • Address reimbursement for providers • Engage major stakeholders in discussion • Assure public involvement
Proposal - 3 • Develop recommendations to assure that all persons recommended to receive new vaccines will have access to these vaccines without financial impediment to themselves or their providers