Medicare Boosts Payments for In-Home COVID-19 Vaccinations in Smaller Group Settings
- August 27, 2021
Medicare will now make additional payments to health care providers for administering COVID-19 vaccines to multiple residents in one home or communal setting of a home, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced this week.
CMS previously boosted payments by $35 per dose for administering at-home vaccinations to beneficiaries who have difficulty receiving the shots in other settings. Vaccine providers may now receive the increased $35 payment up to five times when fewer than ten Medicare beneficiaries get the shot on the same day in the same home or communal setting.
The move is aimed at further increasing access to vaccinations—including second and third doses—for hard-to-reach beneficiaries residing in smaller group homes, assisted living facilities, and other group living situations, CMS said.
“We are doing everything we can to remove barriers to vaccinations, including ensuring appropriate payment levels for vaccine providers to connect with more people in their communities who are unable to receive the vaccine in a traditional setting,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “Today’s actions ensure that everyone has the ability to be vaccinated against COVID-19, including older adults with mobility or transportation challenges and other at-risk individuals.”
The increase reflects challenges to delivering COVID-19 vaccinations outside the retail or health care setting, including vaccine storage temperatures, handling, and administration. The additional payment amount accounts for upfront costs associated with administering the vaccine safely in an at-home setting and for monitoring the beneficiary after a dose is given.