In a White House COVID-19 Response Team briefing Monday, the Biden Administration announced that Medicare reimbursement for COVID-19 vaccines would nearly double from $23 to $40 per shot.
The increase is intended to make it financially feasible for more health-care providers to participate in vaccination efforts, officials said. "We need this heroic team, in particular, to make sure that our highest-risk and undeserved populations are cared for," said Andy Slavitt, White House COVID-19 Response Team senior advisor.
This announcement also comes on the heels of an emergency declaration issued March 11 expanding the pool of care professionals qualified to administer shots. The federal government now allows dentists and dental students to give the vaccine. In some states, dentists had already been authorized to provide this service. EMTs, paramedics, optometrists, midwives, physician assistants, respiratory therapists, and others are also included in this new order.
The US Department of Health and Human Services says it plans to create a website to help individuals determine if they are eligible to provide the vaccine.
This story originally appeared in the Morning Briefing. Subscribe here.
