Polk County to require vaccine payment upfront

Payment for many immunizations will be required upfront starting in coming months at the Polk County Health Department (PCHD), spokesperson Addie Olson tells Axios.

Why it matters: Vaccinations help prevent communicable diseases, but local taxpayers can get stuck with the bill when private insurance companies deny claims.

State of play: The health department has historically billed insurance after vaccines were provided.

Yes, but: The bills are increasingly going unpaid, Polk County administrator John Norris told supervisors in a memo earlier this month.

• The health department last month identified more than $26,000 in outstanding vaccine bills in a five-month period that ended in October, mostly those required for travel

Zoom in: The new policy will not generally affect how vaccines are billed for children, except for those that are exclusively required for travel.

• People on Medicaid or Medicare won't see changes either.

The intrigue: Demand for travel vaccines has remained high since the end of the pandemic.

• In recent months, PCHD's appointments for them have been consistently booked weeks in advance, Olson said.

The big picture: Health advocates have for years called on Congress to clarify regulatory policy to ensure that all CDC-recommended and doctor prescribed travel vaccines are covered by insurance without patient cost-sharing requirements.

• Travelers on limited budgets might be at increased risk for preventable infections with treatment far exceeding the cost of vaccines, per the CDC .

Stunning stat: Some recommended or required travel vaccines like one to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can cost more than $500, according to the PCHD.

What's next: The new billing process will begin after the department completes system and technology updates, Olson said.