Public health immunizations to be limited by health care act
By Patricia Bogumil
Editor
The cost for getting kids their state-mandated immunizations is set to soon go up – an unaffordable quirk to the new federal Affordable Health Care Act.
And while help might be on the way soon at the state level and probably in a couple of years at the federal level, now would be a good time for all west-end adults and children to get their immunizations updated before the new eligibility rules are due to kick in.
Effective Oct. 1, Section 317 of the Affordable Health Care Act will begin limiting how funds to purchase public health immunizations can be used, explained Cheryl Mazmanian, the health department’s director.
With few exceptions, families and individuals with health insurance coverage other than Medicare/Medicaid will not be eligible to receive the Health Department’s public health vaccinations.
Instead, they will need to obtain the vaccinations through their private physician, likely at a higher cost than the clinics charge.
The usual fees charged by the Western Racine County Health Department for children’s immunizations are $10 for one shot; $15 for two; and $20 for three or more.
State officials are currently gathering more information from the federal government about how the new law will impact local services after Oct. 1, said Mazmanian.
The state has also requested an extension to Jan. 1, she said, which would allow public health clinics to continue vaccinating children well into the upcoming school year with the low administration fees still in place.
By 2014, the entire issue should be resolved as the Affordable Health Care Act fully kicks in, said Mazmanian, but for now things are unsettled.
About half the vaccinations usually given at the public health clinics would likely not qualify after Oct. 1 unless an extension is granted, she estimated.
Kids need their shots before school starts
State health officials are encouraging parents to put vaccinations at the top of their children’s back-to-school lists.
While Wisconsin traditionally has high compliance rates with childhood immunization requirements, this year’s pertussis (whooping cough) outbreak makes getting this vaccine especially important.
“Immunizations are key to ensuring a healthy start to the school year for your child and their classmates,” said Dr. Henry Anderson, state Health Officer, and help keep kids healthy and in school rather than sick at home with an illness that could have been prevented.
With the widespread outbreak of more than 3,700 pertussis cases in Wisconsin this year – including some in Racine County – parents are urged to make sure children are vaccinated against the disease.
For middle and high school students, state requirements include a dose of the tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap). Most children will also need to meet the requirement for a second dose of varicella vaccine to prevent chicken pox, which is being phased in. Parents are encouraged to check with their children’s schools to confirm whether their children need the second dose.
The seasonal influenza vaccine is already available in many Wisconsin communities and the recommended target group is everyone age six months and older. This year’s seasonal vaccine again includes immunization against the H1N1 virus.
Vaccinations are recommended not only for children entering grades K-12, but also for college students, particularly freshmen living in dormitories. These students should be immunized against meningitis and hepatitis B.
Parents should keep track of each immunization children receive, and can review these records in the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR) online at www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/immunization/publicAccess.htm. Health care providers can also assist parents to access these records.
For information on the Wisconsin Immunization Program, visit online at
www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/immunization.
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