The American Hospital Association is urging CMS to retroactively apply the increased Medicare payment rates for COVID-19 vaccine administration.
CMS made the national average payment rate for administering the vaccine $40 for each dose, effective March 15. Medicare used to reimburse providers about $28 for a single-dose shot.
The hospital lobby is calling on CMS to apply the boosted payment rate to Dec. 11, 2020, and beyond instead of March 15 and beyond.
The hospital association said hospitals and health systems are facing higher resource costs with administering the COVID-19 vaccine in comparison to other vaccines, including higher storage and handling costs, increased protective gear and greater reporting requirements.
Read the full letter here.