Rotavirus Vaccine Coverage

BULLETIN To: All Health Insurers Re: Rotavirus Vaccine Coverage Date: May 7, 1999 Bulletin: Life and Health 99-9 Please be advised that the required child wellness benefit in Maryland has recently changed to include benefits for the Rotavirus vaccine. Section 15-817(c)(2)(i), Insurance Article, Annotated Code of Maryland requires the minimum package for child wellness services to include all visits for and costs of childhood and adolescent immunizations recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control (ACIP). The ACIP has recently added the Rotavirus vaccine to its recommended childhood immunization schedule. Information regarding the Rotavirus vaccine and the ACIP resolutions, including a fact sheet on the Rotavirus vaccine, can be found on the internet at www.CDC.gov and www.CDC.gov/nip/vfc. The requirement for coverage of the Rotavirus vaccine applies to each individual hospital or major medical insurance policy, group or blanket health insurance policy, and nonprofit service plan that is written on an expense-incurred basis and provides coverage for a family member of the insured. Please inform the appropriate persons in your company about this new benefit so that claims for this vaccine are paid properly. It is our assumption that this change will not necessitate a revision to the various health insurance contracts, since the well child benefits are written with general references to the immunizations recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Center for Disease Control. If you have any questions about this bulletin, please contact the Maryland Insurance Administration at 410-468-2170. Donna B. Imhoff Associate Commissioner