GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1484

Short Title:  Medicaid Immunizations.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representatives Miner; and Bowman.
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Referred to:  Appropriations.
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May 17, 1993

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE PURCHASE OF STATE-MANDATED VACCINES FOR THE IMMUNIZATION OF MEDICAID-ELIGIBLE CHILDREN.
Whereas, all children in the State are entitled to  receive age-appropriate immunizations from those childhood diseases referred to in G.S. 130A-152(a), regardless of ability to pay; and
Whereas, approximately 60% of children in this State actually receive age-appropriate immunizations from the childhood diseases known as diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough, in the form of vaccinations.  Those children not receiving the vaccine are generally and primarily members of families eligible to receive public assistance from the Medicaid program; and
Whereas, universal purchase by the State of childhood vaccines to be administered to all children regardless of financial need would be prohibitively expensive and would provide excessive benefits to persons with both financial ability and means to obtain childhood vaccines from private physicians and county health departments; and
Whereas, the delivery of vaccines to children in need and otherwise unable to pay is appropriate for State health assistance and payment pursuant to G.S. 108A-55 and applicable federal law; and
Whereas, the State's purpose to encourage low-income parents to have vaccines administered to their children would be appropriately accomplished by the adoption of a medical assistance vaccine purchase program; and
Whereas, the General Assembly believes that the cost of adopting a medical assistance vaccine purchase program would be significantly less costly and equally as beneficial as the adoption of a universal purchase vaccine program; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Part 6 of Article 2 of Chapter 108A is amended by adding the following new section to read:
"§ 108A-69.  Medical Assistance Vaccine Purchase Program established; purpose; administration.
(a)	There is established in the Department of Human Resources a Medical Assistance Vaccine Purchase Program.  The purpose of the program is to provide direct payment to vaccine suppliers and manufacturers for vaccines supplied to physicians and local health departments that immunize Medicaid-eligible children in accordance with G.S. 130A-152 and G.S. 130A-153.
(b)	Payment by the Department for the cost of the vaccine shall be made directly to the supplier or manufacturer upon receipt of an application for payment submitted by the manufacturer or supplier. The amount to be paid to the supplier or manufacturer for vaccines supplied shall not be less than that amount paid by the United States Center for Disease Control to vaccine suppliers or manufacturers, plus a reasonable administrative fee of not less than one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) per dose.
(c)	Persons authorized to administer the vaccine under G.S. 130A-153 may charge a reasonable fee for administration, but may not charge the patient or client any fee for the cost of the vaccine.
(d)	Eligibility for services under this section shall be determined in accordance with rules established pursuant to G.S. 108A-55.
(e)	The Department shall ensure that immunizations provided under the program are administered at age-appropriate stages. The Department shall establish a public education program to promote the benefits of age-appropriate vaccine administration to recipients of medical assistance.
(f)	The Medical Care Commission shall adopt rules to implement the Medical Assistance Vaccine Purchase Program, including rules requiring physicians and local health departments to keep adequate records of vaccinations administered and to report information required by the Commission to the Department regarding vaccinations and the purchase of vaccines."
Sec. 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Human Resources the sum of four million dollars ($4,000,000) for the 1993-94 fiscal year and the sum of four million dollars ($4,000,000) for the 1994-95 fiscal year, to implement this act.
Sec. 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1993.