The Department of Vermont Health Access has changed the way it pays the Covid-19 vaccine administration fee, easing the way for Vermonters on Medicaid to get the vaccine in pharmacies.
Andrea DeLaBruere, commissioner of the department, said via email that the administration fee is higher for the Covid vaccine than other vaccines. Until this Thursday, pharmacies seeking to cover the fee would have to rebill the department to get paid the difference. “Most of them are doing so,” she wrote.
On Thursday, the department began paying the higher Covid fee without that rebilling process. CVS Pharmacy spokesperson Matthew Blanchette told VTDigger that the department’s “coding updates” would allow all Vermont Medicaid recipients 19 and older to receive the Covid vaccine without a copay.
While Medicaid covers the cost of childhood vaccinations, including Covid vaccinations, through the Vaccine for Children program, the department was not aware of any pharmacies participating in the program, DeLaBruere said.
Other difficulties have plagued the rollout of the latest Covid vaccine at pharmacies and provider offices. Appointments are limited, and some insurers do not cover the vaccine at certain pharmacies because they are out-of-network.
A list of vaccine providers is available at vaccines.gov. People without insurance, or those whose insurance does not cover Covid vaccination, might be able to get vaccinated through the federal Bridge Access Program, according to the health department.
Correction: A previous version of this story mischaracterized what Medicaid covers for childhood vaccines at pharmacies.
