Enabling reimbursement to health departments for immunization services.

Through its Billables Project, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is helping US health departments to implement programs to bill Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance for vaccine costs and administration fees for insured clients. A 2001 national survey published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that only 31% of US health departments were billing managed care organizations for the immunization services they provided to insured patients. By developing billing systems, health departments have found a new stream of revenue. Funds generated through billing programs can be used for enhanced immunization services for children, adolescents, and adults.