The shingles vaccine: Not practice friendly

This internist has serious concerns about the vaccine for shingles:

Like it or not, my practice is a business with real expenses. At best, the cost of the vaccine will be covered but I will have to bear the initial outlay of $180 per dose. I still will also have invested significant staff time in storing, monitoring, and administering the vaccine, and doing the special paperwork.

At worst, I will be stiffed for the entire amount and have to fight the patient who believes she should not have to pay for the vaccine.

Primary care doctors are already being gouged for the dubious privilege of giving flu and pneumococcal vaccines at terrible rates of reimbursement.

Excuse me if I err on the side of not going bankrupt. I am not giving the zoster vaccine.

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