Medicaid Will Cover Coronavirus Vaccine Counseling for Kids

State Medicaid programs must cover coronavirus vaccine counseling for children as well as vaccine counseling for all pediatric vaccines for eligible beneficiaries, CMS announced.

“By supporting conversations between families and health care providers and answering parents’ questions, we can connect more children to effective vaccines,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. 

“The Biden-Harris Administration is requiring states to cover vaccine counseling through Medicaid to create the space for children and parents to ask questions, get answers, and receive the information they need from trusted partners.”

Vaccine counseling for children will be covered under Medicaid as part of vaccination administration. Beneficiaries eligible for Medicaid-covered vaccine counseling must be under 21 years of age and covered through the Medicaid Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit.

States can receive 100 percent matching from the federal government for vaccination administration services, in accordance with the American Rescue Plan Act. Federal matching will continue for a year after the coronavirus pandemic public health emergency has been lifted.

However, this announcement extends far beyond the coronavirus pandemic. 

The Biden administration has instructed all states to cover stand-alone vaccination counseling for children for any vaccine. This will also be considered part of the Medicaid Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit and states will receive federal matching at their regular federal medical assistance percentage.

“Today’s action not only underscores the importance of vaccination education, but is also a critical step towards protecting families by increasing their access to information from providers as they make informed decisions concerning vaccinations for their children,” the press release concluded.

The press release highlighted that these actions could have a significant impact on children in minority communities. Achieving health equity in the coronavirus vaccination effort has faced many barriers. Researchers have underscored that pursuing vaccine equity is crucial, as well as supporting primary care vaccinators.