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Cost of vaccine administration among pediatric practices

Judith E Glazner1, Brenda Beaty, Stephen Berman

  • 1Department of Health Systems, Management, and Policy, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado, USA.

Pediatrics
|December 2, 2009
PubMed

Insights

The variable costs for administering childhood immunizations to providers averaged $11.51 per injection. Some health plans reimburse practices less than the actual cost of vaccine administration.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric healthcare economics
  • Public health policy
  • Immunization program management

Background:

  • Understanding the financial sustainability of immunization services is crucial for maintaining high vaccination rates.
  • Pediatric practices face financial challenges in delivering essential childhood immunizations.
  • Accurate cost data is needed to inform reimbursement policies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To document and analyze the variable costs incurred by healthcare providers for delivering childhood immunizations.
  • To compare these costs with existing reimbursement rates from various health plans.

Main Methods:

  • Variable costs, including staff time, supplies, and waste disposal, were documented in ten private pediatric practices.
  • Payment data from health plans was collected and analyzed for 37 different agreements.
  • A simulation model was used to adjust for the small sample size.

Main Results:

  • The average variable cost per immunization injection (excluding vaccine cost) was $11.51.
  • Non-routine activities, such as inventory, record provision, and parent inquiries, contributed significantly to costs.
  • Over one-third of payment agreements provided reimbursement below the combined variable costs for administering two vaccines.

Conclusions:

  • Variable costs associated with vaccine administration can exceed reimbursement from certain insurers and health plans.
  • This discrepancy poses a financial challenge for pediatric practices providing immunization services.
  • Reimbursement policies may need adjustment to ensure the financial viability of childhood immunization programs.
Abstract

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