Childhood Immunization: Opportunities to Improve Immunization Rates at Lower Cost
HRD-93-41
Published: Mar 24, 1993. Publicly Released: Apr 05, 1993.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO examined options to reduce Medicaid costs for immunizing children.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Human Services | To expand access to immunization services, the Secretary of Health and Human Services should direct the Assistant Secretary for Health and the Administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) to develop innovative financing mechanisms through Medicaid and CDC immunization program grants to support wider implementation of vaccine replacement programs. |
Closed – Implemented
This recommendation was superseded by the President's Childhood Immunization Initiative in OBRA 1993.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | To expand access to immunization services, the Secretary of Health and Human Services should direct the Assistant Secretary for Health and the Administrator, HCFA, to strongly promote wider adoption of vaccine purchase and distribution programs that allow states to purchase vaccines directly from manufacturers at CDC prices. |
Closed – Not Implemented
OBRA 1993 takes a slightly different approach, directing HHS to negotiate contracts for the purchase and delivery of vaccines for all federally-eligible children.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | To address a barrier to physician participation in immunizing Medicaid children, the Secretary of Health and Human Services should direct the Administrator, HCFA, to specifically assess the adequacy of fees paid to providers for administering vaccines as part of the agency's evaluations of state compliance with provisions of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989 (Section 6402) on adequate payment levels for obstetrical and pediatric services. |
Closed – Not Implemented
Under the Vaccines for Children program, HHS is pursuing a different strategy that supersedes this recommendation.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | To reduce Medicaid vaccination costs, the Secretary of Health and Human Services should direct the Administrator, HCFA, to require that requests for Medicaid reimbursement of single-antigen vaccines for preschool children include medical justifications. |
Closed – Not Implemented
Under the Vaccines for Children program, HHS is pursuing a different strategy that supersedes this recommendation.
|
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Topics
ChildrenCommunity health servicesDisease detection or diagnosisstate relationsHealth care cost controlImmunization programsImmunization servicesInfectious diseasesState programsMedicaid