Some Doctors May Stop Vaccines Because of Cost
A News & Events entry posted on December 3, 2008
According to the Associated Press about one in 10 doctors who vaccinate privately insured children are considering dropping that service largely because they are losing money. Health officials are worried. Reimbursement concerns were behind an exodus of doctors from vaccine programs in the 1980s, which contributed to a terrible resurgence of measles in 1989-91 that caused 11,000 hospitalizations and 123 deaths.
This year, U.S. measles cases rose to the highest level in more than a decade, mainly because some parents are opting out of getting their kids vaccinated. Most pediatricians are likely to keep giving vaccinations to kids, partly because of altruism and partly because giving shots drives business. But family practice doctors who are not as dependent on vaccinations for patients may decide the shots are too much of a financial headache.
The new studies published in December’s Journal of Pediatrics revealed overall 11 percent of physicians have seriously considered stopping vaccinations for privately insured patients. But 21 percent of family doctors felt that way, compared with just 5 percent of pediatricians.
A government advisory panel studying the financial burden of vaccines is expected to submit proposals for changes in reimbursement practices to federal health officials next year.