Federal Statute and Guidance | Covid-19 | Dec 14, 2021
CMS Announces Mandatory Coverage of Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine Counseling with 100% FMAP
On December 2, CMS announced that states are now required to cover COVID-19 vaccine counseling for children and youth under age 21 through the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit. These counseling visits will be considered COVID-19 vaccine administration, so states will receive a 100% federal match through the last day of the first quarter that begins one year after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, per the American Rescue Plan. In addition, CMS will now require that states cover stand-alone vaccine counseling visits related to all pediatric vaccines under the EPSDT benefit; these will be matched at the state’s regular FMAP percentage.