Group Health and community leaders are creating a new system to ensure children and everyone in Washington state continues to have access to affordable vaccines without interruption.
In 2009 Washington state eliminated funding for its universal purchase of vaccine program due to the state’s severe budgetary crisis. This change threatened to disrupt Washington’s efficient and cost effective system for acquiring and distributing childhood vaccine, potentially leading to even higher costs and administrative challenges. Funding was slated to be eliminated in May of 2010.
When it became apparent that the program would be eliminated, Group Health began working on solutions that would maintain the low cost and easy access to vaccines for providers and families across the state.
Group Health joined a group of community leaders, doctors, insurers, public health officials, and other stakeholders to explore ways to maintain the state’s universal purchase system. Recently the group agreed in principle to form a public private partnership that would continue universal purchase of vaccines with funding provided by insurers. One major benefit of maintaining the universal purchase program means that vaccines can be purchased at a discounted rate through the federal government.
Proposed legislation will finalize an agreement reached by health insurers to continue universal purchase of vaccines effective May 1, 2010. Final details of the universal purchase program will be worked out in the coming weeks.
The follow is a story about the cuts was recently featured on KING5 TV
