Comments on: Not enough patients receive vaccines and what doctors can do about it http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/02/patients-receive-vaccines-doctors.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:39:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: stargirl65http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/02/patients-receive-vaccines-doctors.html#comment-125147 stargirl65 Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:37:39 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=42427#comment-125147 Vaccines are extremely expensive. They require a refrigerator for storage. They require time to order, track, manage, and record. Unfortunately, most insurers barely cover the cost of the vaccines. Some actually pay less than the cost of the vaccine. Medicine is partly a business. You cannot keep providing care if you are constantly losing money. Since insurers have put the tight reins on reimbursements (my pay from Blue Cross has been the same for 10 years) I cannot afford to give away anything for free.If you want me to give more vaccines then either give them to me for free or allow me enough overhead to cover my time and effort in managing the procurement of the vaccine and the administration of the vaccine to the patient. Vaccines are extremely expensive. They require a refrigerator for storage. They require time to order, track, manage, and record. Unfortunately, most insurers barely cover the cost of the vaccines. Some actually pay less than the cost of the vaccine. Medicine is partly a business. You cannot keep providing care if you are constantly losing money. Since insurers have put the tight reins on reimbursements (my pay from Blue Cross has been the same for 10 years) I cannot afford to give away anything for free.

If you want me to give more vaccines then either give them to me for free or allow me enough overhead to cover my time and effort in managing the procurement of the vaccine and the administration of the vaccine to the patient.

]]> By: Kevinhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/02/patients-receive-vaccines-doctors.html#comment-125090 Kevin Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:01:40 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=42427#comment-125090 Here it is: http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/journals/afp/preprint/2010childimmunizationschedules.htmlKevin Here it is:
http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/journals/afp/preprint/2010childimmunizationschedules.html

Kevin

]]> By: Philiphttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/02/patients-receive-vaccines-doctors.html#comment-125084 Philip Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:58:53 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=42427#comment-125084 How about recent data showing the NNT for pneumovax is 20000 to prevent one case of pneumonia, 50000 to prevent one death. How about recent data showing the NNT for pneumovax is 20000 to prevent one case of pneumonia, 50000 to prevent one death.

]]> By: khanhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/02/patients-receive-vaccines-doctors.html#comment-125083 khan Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:37:33 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=42427#comment-125083 How about a link to the guidelines? How about a link to the guidelines?

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/02/patients-receive-vaccines-doctors.html#comment-124989 Anonymous Wed, 10 Feb 2010 06:25:41 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=42427#comment-124989 How much of the lack of vaccination is due to people believing all of the vaccine conspiracy theories (autism, etc.)? How much of the lack of vaccination is due to people believing all of the vaccine conspiracy theories (autism, etc.)?

]]> By: R Watkinshttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/02/patients-receive-vaccines-doctors.html#comment-124980 R Watkins Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:57:51 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=42427#comment-124980 More and more insurers pay physicians less than the purchase price of vaccines. Many peds, IM and FP docs in my community refer patients to the health department on the other side of town for all vaccination services. Bad for the individual and bad for the herd. More and more insurers pay physicians less than the purchase price of vaccines. Many peds, IM and FP docs in my community refer patients to the health department on the other side of town for all vaccination services. Bad for the individual and bad for the herd.

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