Major changes in the state’s childhood vaccine program, the result of state budget cuts, place a larger burden on family physicians, and the impact on children in the North Olympic Peninsula is unclear, the health officer for both counties said.
The change is the result of the state’s budget crisis in which lawmakers discontinued the vaccine program for some children to save $48.5 million over the next two years. Washington was one of only five states still providing the program.
The changes effective May 1, 2010, mean that children with private health insurance will no longer receive state-funded vaccine.
Tom Locke, Clallam and Jefferson county health officer, said the concern is that doctors will find the changes too burdensome.
“We want to prevent physicians from concluding this is too much of a hassle and pull out of the vaccine service,” Locke said.
“We’re trying to make sure that does not happen. Our goal is to continue to have all kids covered.”
Michele Roberts, speaking for the state’s Immunization Program Child Profile, said: “It is a huge change of workloads for providers because providers have never had to buy vaccines before.
“Providers now have to buy vaccine. They have to insure vaccine and then screen kids to make sure they are getting the right vaccine.”
Locke said perhaps the biggest challenge for local health departments and private practitioners is dealing with the logistics of the change.
“Now they are going to have to deal with a more complicated system,” he said.
State health officials are encouraging parents to check their insurance policies to see which childhood vaccines are covered.
Parents should present their insurance card every time their children are vaccinated.
“People don’t always know if their health insurance covers vaccination,” state Health Secretary Mary Selecky said in a prepared statement released Wednesday. “Most insurance policies cover the costs of vaccines.”
Planning ahead
State funds on May 1 will no longer be used to buy childhood vaccine — allowing time to plan a smooth transition so there are no breaks in vaccinating children 18 and under.
In the past, the federal government has paid for all children’s vaccines so long as their parents meet the financial eligibility.
“For the past decade, the state of Washington has paid for the rest for kids in higher income,” Locke said.
The state will continue using federal funding to buy vaccines for low-income children.
Health-care providers can use the publicly purchased vaccine to immunize children who are enrolled in the state Medicaid program, have no insurance, are underinsured or are Native American or Alaskan natives.
Children enrolled in free or low-cost state health plans, including the State Children’s Health Insurance Program and Basic Health, also will continue to receive publicly purchased vaccine.
Private health care providers give more than 90 percent of all childhood immunizations, Selecky said.
Locke said parents should contact their medical providers, their medical insurance companies, Jefferson County Public Health at 360-385-9400 or Clallam County Health and Human Services at 360-417-2274.
For more information, see www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/immunize/providers/universal.htm.
To contact the Department of Health Immunization Program, phone 1-866-397-0337 or e-mail universalchanges@doh.wa.gov.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
