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July 3, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Question of Cost Cutting by Insurance Company"

Associated Press (www.ap.org) (07/01/02)

In order to cut costs, UnitedHealthcare is directing patients that it covers to seek immunizations through Connecticut's free childhood vaccine program rather than buying the vaccine themselves.  The practice is currently under review by state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who noted that directing patients to use vaccine supplies from the Department of Public Health could severely deplete their stocks and could be a statutory or ethical violation.  UnitedHealthcare director of public relations in the Northeast Debora Spano notes that the state program is open to any child in the state and is covered by tax revenue, so asking its members to pay for vaccines would mean that they are paying twice.  Blumenthal and State Medical Society general counsel Cameron Staples point out that UnitedHealthcare is required to pay for vaccines in their coverage and cannot simply refer patients to the free state program to avoid that cost.

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