Healthcare Financial News

The nation's immunization coverage rates for preteens and teens are increasing for routinely recommended vaccines, but most still do not have all of the recommended immunizations, according to 2007 estimates released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The survey provides estimates for three vaccines recommended at 11 or 12 years of age: the tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccine, the meningococcal conjugate vaccine, and the human papillomavirus vaccine for girls and young women. It also includes estimates of the percentage of 13- through 17-year-old teens who should have received the recommended immunizations for measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, hepatitis B vaccine, and varicella vaccine earlier in life.

The nation's Healthy People 2010 goals for preteens and teens ages 13-15 years are not being met for any of the vaccines for which goals were set. The Healthy People 2010 goals are for 90 percent coverage for preteens and teens 13 to 15 years of age with three doses of hepatitis B vaccine, two doses of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, one dose of either tetanus-diphtheria or tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis vaccine, and one dose of varicella vaccine for those who have not previously had chickenpox. There is not a Healthy People 2010 goal for HPV vaccination, which was first licensed and recommended in 2006.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that beneficiaries, their caregivers, and family members can begin to review 2009 Medicare prescription drug plan and health plan information online.

“Some beneficiaries may see significant premium increases or changes, such as reduced coverage in the gap, if they stay in the same prescription drug plan in 2009,” said CMS Acting Administrator Kerry Weems. “Yet, almost 97 percent of beneficiaries enrolled in a stand-alone prescription drug plan (PDP) will have access to Medicare drug and health plans in 2009 whose premiums would be the same or less than their coverage in 2008.”

The 2009 Plan Finder allows beneficiaries to compare prescription drug coverage from both stand-alone PDPs and Medicare Advantage plans that provide prescription drug coverage and to view premiums, formularies, and availability of coverage in the gap. Additionally, the 2009 Medicare Options Compare tool allows beneficiaries to compare Medicare health plan options, such as HMOs and PPOs.