Medicare to pay more to administer COVID-19 vaccines

Effective today, Medicare will nearly double what it pays to administer COVID-19 vaccines to about $40 per dose to better reflect the costs involved and help providers vaccinate more Americans, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced today.

The exact payment rate will depend on the type of service provider and location, the agency said. CMS today updated its vaccine guidance for Medicaid providers to reflect the new Medicare rates, and is working to update its guidance for Medicare providers, states and insurers.

AHA has urged CMS to pay more to administer COVID-19 vaccines to take into consideration the need for cold storage and greater personal protective equipment, public health reporting and time to answer patient questions.