Local Health Department Immunization Billing Questionnaire Results

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Local Health Department Immunization Billing
Questionnaire Results

• Sunee N. Mickle
• Kansas Health Institute
• October 12, 2006

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Background

• LHDs are a major part of immunization delivery
  network
• Are LHDs offering immunization services to all
  children?
• Who is paying for these immunizations?

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Survey Goals

• Survey conducted 9/06 10/06
• Understand eligibility in LHDs
• Are all children eligible for immunization
  services regardless of insurance coverage?
• Learn about billing practices
• Sliding fee scale
• Billing insurance companies

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Survey Design and Participation

• 6 questions
• 105 county local health departments
• 63 counties received survey in September
• 42 counties received survey in October
• 89 counties (85) responded as of 10/9/06

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Proportion of LHDs That Immunize All vs Some
Children
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LHDs Providing Immunization Services By Insurance
Status
N respondents 89
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Number of LHDs Providing Sliding Fee
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Billing Insurance Companies
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Companies Billed for Services
N respondents 89
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Billing Private Insurance Companies for
Immunization Services
N respondents that immunize children with private
insurance 77
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Key Findings

• All LHDs offer immunizations for Healthwave and
  VFC children
• The majority (74) of LHDs immunize children
  regardless of insurance coverage
• Many (but not all) LHDs bill insurance companies
• Those that do not may use public vaccine or bill
  clients for immunization services

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