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June 28, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Medicare Screenings, Vaccines Underused"

American Medical News (www.amednews.com) (06/17/02) Vol. 45, No. 23, P. 7; Hawryluk, Markian

The General Accounting Office (GAO) has reported that though Medicare has increased its coverage for some types of screenings and immunizations, the use of such offerings is very different, depending upon the state.  The GAO discovered that the rates of influenza and pneumonia vaccination grew between 1995 and 1999, though only 55 percent of Medicare beneficiaries had been immunized for pneumonia in the previous two years.  In fact, both of the immunizations were used by fewer than 50 percent of beneficiaries each year, and even fewer received both immunizations.  Influenza immunization rates varied between 63 percent and 77 percent depending upon the state, and though 70 percent of whites were given flu vaccinations, just 49 percent of African-Americans received the service.  The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has enlisted the help of quality improvement organizations, previously called peer review organizations, to determine how to increase the rates of immunization.  The groups are concentrating on educational efforts.

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