Bill > H1981

This bill establishes school-located influenza vaccination programs in elementary and secondary schools, overseen by the Department of Public Health in collaboration with the Division of Insurance and the Department of Education, to vaccinate children, defined as individuals under nineteen years of age, against influenza. These programs will administer vaccines consistent with recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and can be implemented through local health departments, school nurses, or other local entities, with the possibility of contracting with vaccination access companies. Participation in these programs is voluntary, and vaccines will only be given with parental or legal guardian consent. The bill aims to maximize the use of existing public and private insurance for vaccinations, requiring health insurers to reimburse for influenza vaccine administration outside of a doctor's office, such as in schools or pharmacies, at their established rates, and mandating that health insurers pay 100% of reasonable and customary charges for routine childhood immunizations for Massachusetts residents under nineteen, excluding costs covered by the Commonwealth or federal government. Furthermore, the Department of Public Health will make information on federal grants and appropriation opportunities available to relevant organizations and will submit a report to legislative leaders detailing the program's results, including vaccination rates, its utility in pandemic response, feasibility of expansion, and any indirect benefits like reduced absenteeism.