HHS reminds providers in COVID-19 vaccine program not to charge recipients

Jun 09, 2021 - 01:53 PM
cdc-update

Health care providers participating in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 Vaccination Program must administer the vaccines at no cost to recipients, the Department of Health and Human Services reminded providers and health plans in a letter yesterday.

“For uninsured and underinsured patients, providers may bill the Health Resources and Services Administration COVID-19 Uninsured and COVID-19 Coverage Assistance Fund programs for vaccine-related fees,” the letter notes. “If providers accidentally billed and received payments from patients for COVID-19 vaccine-related fees, those payments should immediately be returned to their patients.”

Group health plans also must cover COVID-19 diagnostic testing without cost-sharing, the letter notes

Related News Articles

Headline
HHS to end emergency authorization for COVID-19 drugs, medical devices 
The Department of Health and Human Services June 30 announced it will terminate emergency use authorization declarations for certain drugs and medical devices…
Headline
CMS Administrator Oz and Deputy Administrator Brillman discuss agency’s focus on innovation, reducing waste
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz, M.D., and CMS Deputy Administrator and Director of Medicaid and CHIP Dan Brillman sat…
Headline
CDC report highlights low use of COVID-19 antivirals among people 65 and older 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Feb. 19 released a report on the low use of COVID-19 antiviral drugs among individuals age 65 and older, a…
Headline
FDA issues guidance on wellness products, clinical decision support software
The Food and Drug Administration today released two guidance documents; one related to low-risk wellness products (including certain wearable devices) and the…
Headline
CDC report finds COVID-19 vaccine for children reduced chances of ED, urgent care visits
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dec. 11 released a report that found last year’s version of the COVID-19 vaccine was 76% effective in preventing…
Headline
AHA responds to FDA request for information on AI-enabled medical devices
The AHA provided recommendations to the Food and Drug Administration Dec. 1 in response to a request for information on the measurement and evaluation of…