December 2nd, 2008

A new study reported by the Associated Press and in the journal Pediatrics has stated that some doctors are considering stopping vaccinating privately insured children. 

About one in 10 doctors surveyed state that private insurers are not reimbursing them enough, and vaccinating children is costly.  Nearly half of those surveyed admitted to delaying the purchase at least one vaccine because of cost; one in five said they strongly felt reimbursement for purchase and administration of vaccines was inadequate.

A second survey revealed a large difference between what doctors pay for vaccines and what private health insurers reimburse:  for example, one in 10 doctors lost money an a recommended vaccine, but others made almost $40 per dose on the same shot.

The study is the first of its kind to investigate doctors’ longstanding complaints that they are merely breaking even–or sometimes losing money–by giving shots.

While experts say there’s no reason for concern that large numbers of doctors might stop vaccinating, health officials are worried. 

Reimbursement issues were to blame for a large number of doctors stopping vaccinating in the 1980s, which contributed to increased cases of measles that led to 11,000 hospitalizations and 123 deaths.

“This is a very important wake-up call,” said Dr. Lance Rodewald of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.