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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: August 17, 2010 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. � <br /> SUBJECT: New Fees for Health Department Secondary to State Budget Changes <br /> DEPARTMENT: Health PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Proposed New Health Department Fees Rosemary Summers, 245-2411 <br /> PURPOSE: To establish fees for vaccines and for administration of a screening tool for 18 and <br /> 24 month olds. <br /> BACKGROUND: With the passage of the Fiscal Year 2010-11 State budget, funding that <br /> made free vaccines available for all children, regardless of insurance status, no longer exists. <br /> The Federal Vaccine for Children program will continue. The Vaccine for Children program <br /> provides selected vaccines at no charge to children between 0-18 years of age who are <br /> uninsured, Medicaid eligible, American Indian, Alaskan Native or underinsured. Children with <br /> insurance plans (including Health Choice) that cover vaccines after co-payments and <br /> deductibles are met are not eligible for vaccines through the Vaccine for Children program. <br /> As a result of this change, staff anticipates a number of providers will refer their privately <br /> insured children to the Health Department for vaccine services rather than incur the risk of <br /> ordering and not using vaccine, thus experiencing a financial loss. Additionally, some families <br /> of insured children who have traditionally received their vaccinations through the Health <br /> Department will no longer be eligible for the free vaccines and will be charged for the vaccine. <br /> A fee must be established in order to recover the cost of the vaccine and ancillary costs when <br /> possible. <br /> In addition the State Medicaid agency instituted a new required screening tool called M-CHAT <br /> for 18 and 24 month olds during a well-child visit. The screening can be billed separately from <br /> the well-child visit. A $13.00 fee is proposed that will cover the cost of the additional time from <br /> personnel administering the screening tool. <br /> Attached is a summary of the new fees proposed for the various vaccines and the M-CHAT <br /> requirement. Staff will limit the inventory to the most prevalent and least costly vaccines. <br />