'An expensive effort': Who covers the costs involved with COVID-19 vaccinations?
Officials said you should not have to pay out of pocket
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Updated: 10:26 PM CST Feb 23, 2021
Officials said you should not have to pay out of pocket
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Updated: 10:26 PM CST Feb 23, 2021
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JULIE: IT’S FREE TO GET YOUR COVID-19 VACCINE. SO WHO IS PAYING FOR IT? GOOD EVENING. I’M JULIE CORNELL. ROB: I’M ROB MCCARTNEY. BETWEEN ACTUAL DOSES, AND THE OPERATIONS AROUND GETTING THE SHOT INTO YOUR ARM, COSTS CAN PILE UP. KETV NEWSWATCH 7’S ALEXANDRA JOINS US WITH MORE ON WHO IS FOOTING THE BILL ALEXANDRA: THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN COVID-19 VACCINES EACH WEEK HERE AT THE MID-AMERICA CENTER. BUT OFFICIALS IN POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY SAY THE COST TO RUN THIS IS STEEP. AND THEY’RE NOT THE ONLY ONES TALKING ABOUT THE PRICETAG OF THE VACCINE ROLLOUT. WHILE THE COVID-19 VACCINE MAY BE FREE FOR YOU THERE ARE PLENTY OF COSTS INVOLVED. >> THE VACCINE EFFORT IS -- I MEAN IT’S AN EXPENSIVE EFFORT. THAT HAS COUNTIES ASKING FOR -- ALEXANDR THAT HAS COUNTIES ASKING FOR MORE MONEY. POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY PLANNING DIRECTOR MATT WYANT SAYS T BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVED A $2.5 MILLION BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR COVID-19 EFFORTS TUESDAY. WHILE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PURCHASED THE VACCINES WYANT SAYS THE COST TO RUN CLINICS AT THE MID-AMERICA CENTER ADDS UP. FROM USING THE FACILITY ITSEL, TO STAFF AND ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES. WYANT: EACH ONE OF THE VACCINE CLINICS THAT WE RUN COSTS US APPROXIMATELY $40,000. ALEXANDRA: DOUGLAS COUNTY HEAL DIRECTOR DR. ADI POUR ALSO TALKED ABOUT FUNDING TUESDAY AND MADE THE CASE FOR NEEDING MORE. DR. POUR: THE EXPENSE OF THIS ENDEAVOR IS INCREASING AND SO IT MAY BE VERY LIKELY AND MOST LIKELY THAT I WILL HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE BOAR DAND ASK FOR MORE FINANCIAL RESOURCES. ALEXANDRA: AND YOU MAY HAVE ALSO SEEN THINGS LIKE THIS IN REGARD TO THE COVID-19 VACCINE, FREE, ALONGSIDE ’FEES MAY APPLY.’ LINDSEY LUDWIG IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CPESN IOWA A PHARMACY NETWORK, SHE SAYS IT GOES BACK TO THAT COST TO ADMINISTER SHOTS. LUDWIG: I THINK THIS IS VERY CONFUSING AND I THINK THAT IS MAINLY INFORMING PEOPLE TH THEY MAY SEE THE COST OF THE ADMINISTRATION FEE ON THEIR LIKE EXPLANATION OF BENEFITS BILL. ALEXANDRA: LUDWIG SAYS PHARMACIES SUBMIT AN ADMINISTRATION FEE TO INSURANCE, MEDICARE OR MEDICAID TO RECOUP THE COST INVOLVED WITH SCHEDULING, DOCUMENTATION, AND ACTUALLY GIVING THE SHOTS. WYANT SAYS POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY DOES NOT SUBMIT TO INSURANCE, MEDICARE OR MEDICAID AT ALL. HE SAYS THE FEDERAL FUNDS COVER THE COSTS OF GETTING SHOTS INTO ARMS REGARDLESS BOTH SAY YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO PAY TO GET THE VACCINE. LUDWIG: IF SOMEONE IS UNINSURED. THEN, ACTUALLY, THE GOVERNMENT IS ACTUALLY PROVIDING A SOLUTION FOR THAT AND IS PAYING FOR THAT THROUGH AN UNINSURED PROCESS. ALEXANDRA: WYANT SAYS POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY HAS APPLIED FOR FEMA REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE