Do You Support This Recommendation for this change to Medicare ?

[GailL1]

On June 17, 2021,  MedPac * in their Report to Congress - recommended that all recommended preventive vaccinations be covered under part B rather than Part D.  WITHOUT BENEFICIARY COST SHARING.

The MedPac Report -

See Chapter 7 (Medicare vaccine coverage and payment)  - begins on report page 241

http://www.medpac.gov/docs/default-source/reports/jun21_medpac_report_to_congress_sec.pdf?sfvrsn=0 

From the Report:

To improve coverage and payment of preventive vaccines under Part B, the
Commission recommends that the Congress:
• cover all appropriate preventive vaccines and their administration under Part B
instead of Part D, without cost sharing;  

The current recommended vaccinations for Medicare beneficiaries are:

Medicare & You 2021  

Shots (or vaccines)
Part B covers:
• Yearly flu shots. See page 40.  100% covered already as well as the Covid vaccination
• Hepatitis B shots. See page 40.
• Pneumococcal shots. See page 45.
Medicare drug coverage (Part D) covers all other recommended adult
immunizations like shingles, Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccines to
prevent illness

By this design, beneficiaries with only Part D coverage have to pay a copay for the recommended immunization depending upon it's tier rank on your Med D plan.  The Shingles vaccine( Zostavax and the new, more effective one, Shingrix)  is pretty pricey especially since it is a 2-shot regiment from 2-6 months apart.

With the passage of the ACA - all recommended vaccines for all other age groups are covered without any out of pocket cost under all types of private and public health care insurance coverage plans  EXCEPT FOR MEDICARE.  

Think we are due some fairness here - after all the point of preventive care is to prevent disease and its associate cost.  Ever see anybody with a bad case of shingles?  Those of us who have already had these vaccine won't see any benefit at the present time - but think about those who come after us who need these vaccinations.  Or what IF more vaccines are recommended in the future - we might get some relief there.

Ask your Congressperson to support this MedPac recommendation - 

* The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) is an independent congressional agency established by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (P.L. 105-33) to advise the U.S. Congress on issues affecting the Medicare program.