At least one Chicago COVID-19 vaccine provider has charged uninsured patients for consultations before they receive their vaccines, according to a Feb. 23 report from local NPR affiliate WBEZ.
Michigan Avenue Immediate Care was charging patients who are uninsured or have out-of-network providers a $195 fee for a so-called vaccine consultation, according to WBEZ.
Guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health says that COVID-19 vaccine providers can charge administration fees for the vaccine, but they should bill insurance providers or the federal government if a patient is uninsured.
Theresa Eagleson, the director of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, told WBEZ the department has received about 50 calls about vaccine administration fees and it is working on getting them reimbursed.
Ms. Eagleson told WBEZ she encourages patients to push back if faced with a COVID-19 vaccine fee, as federal and state COVID-19 vaccine guidelines are designed to protect patients from paying any vaccination fees.
Michigan Avenue Immediate Care originally told WBEZ it bills insurance for in-network patients, but charges uninsured or out-of-network patients up front. The clinic then told the station it misunderstood how to go about reimbursement patients who did not have insurance or were out-of-network. It said it would no longer charge patients vaccination fees and is reaching out to patients who have paid the fee to offer them refunds.
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