Health Care System Factors for Immunizations: influenza, adults

Health Care System Factors

All Health Insurance Marketplace plans and most other private insurance plans must cover influenza vaccines without charging a co-payment or co-insurance when provided by an in-network provider. This is true even for patients who have not met a yearly deductible. For older adults, Medicare part B does cover influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations, and Medicaid covers influenza and pneumococcal for children recommended to receive vaccine. A new long-term care facilities licensing rule has been implemented to guarantee consistent screening for influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations, for standing orders to give vaccines, for keeping immunization histories of all residents and employees, for the offer of a one-time pneumococcal vaccination for the residents, and for the annual offering of an influenza vaccination for both the residents and employees. This new rule should raise immunization rates for adults who reside in institutional settings.