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Provider Notice issued 11/29/06
Vaccines For Children’s (VFC) Plus Program for All Kids
| To: |
Physicians, Advanced Practice Nurses, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), Encounter Rate Clinics (ERC), Rural Health Clinics (RHC), Local Health Departments, School-based Clinics, Local Education Authorities (LEA), and Hospitals billing fee-for-service |
| Date: | November 29, 2006 |
| Re: | Vaccines For Children’s (VFC) Plus Program for All Kids |
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The All Kids program is a complete healthcare program for every child in Illinois who receives coverage under the All Kids program. The benefit package under All Kids is comprehensive and includes preventive services, such as well child visits, including immunizations, lead screening, objective developmental screening, and vision and hearing screenings. As part of the implementation of All Kids, Medicaid and KidCare coverage of children was renamed All Kids. Information regarding All Kids program can be obtained at http://www.allkids.com
We are pleased to announce that children covered under All Kids can receive childhood vaccines made available to their providers by the VFC Program administered by the Illinois Department of Public Health or the Chicago Department of Public Health. The VFC Plus Program helps families of children who may not otherwise have access to vaccines by providing free vaccines to providers who serve them.
We encourage all providers serving children to enroll in the VFC Program. Enrollment in the VFC Program, or having an arrangement with a VFC provider, will be required in order to participate as a provider of services to children in Illinois Health Connect, HFS’ Primary Care Case Management (PCCM) program. Because Illinois Health Connect will serve the majority of children covered by All Kids by 2007, enrollment in the VFC Program is strongly recommended. Information on Illinois Health Connect is available on HFS’ Web site at: http://www.hfs.illinois.gov/
For general information about the VFC Program, becoming enrolled in the program or ordering vaccines covered under the program, contact 1-800-526-4372. Providers located in Chicago should contact the Chicago VFC Program at 312-746-6358.
For information about recommended vaccines for children, view the Centers for Disease Control Web site at: http://www.cdc.gov/ or the Illinois Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics Web site at: http://www.illinoisaap.org/immunizations.html.
HFS pays providers for the administration of vaccines covered under the VFC Program. Reimbursement for the vaccines is not available through HFS, as the vaccines are available at no cost to the provider through the VFC program. Providers who vaccinate children enrolled in All Kids should bill HFS using the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code for the specific immunization. Fee-for-service providers will be reimbursed an administration fee for administering the vaccine. While there will be no additional payment for administration of the vaccine to providers serving managed care enrollees or to centers or clinics billing an encounter rate, the detail regarding the specific vaccination defined by the CPT code should be provided on the encounter billing form so that an accurate immunization history is recorded by HFS and can be made available to the child’s “medical home” provider and to parent/caretaker relative or guardian, as needed.
There are no co-pays for immunizations for children or well-child visits. For additional information regarding co-payments, please refer to the following links on the department’s Web site:
June 27, 2006 Informational Notice on All Kids Health Insurance Program – Cost Sharing at: http://www.hfs.illinois.gov/physicians/
September 12, 2006 Chapter 100 Handbook update at: http://www.hfs.illinois.gov/all/
Your participation in our health care program is beneficial to the health and well being of Illinois children. We greatly appreciate your participation and partnership.
If you have questions regarding this notice, please contact the Bureau of Comprehensive Health Services at 1-877-782-5565.
Anne Marie Murphy, Ph.D. Administrator Division of Medical Programs |