Dickinson County Public Health (DCPH) and Lakes Regional Family Medicine (LRFM) will begin billing insurance for administering the COVID-19 vaccine beginning June 1, 2021. Lakes Regional Healthcare Director of Population and Public Health Katy Burke said this was always an option, but DCPH chose not to bill for vaccine administration considering the county was responding to a pandemic and didn’t want to create any obstacles to people choosing to get the vaccine.
“This bill will be for the administration of the vaccine, not the vaccine itself,” said Burke. “With Lakes Regional Family Medicine now offering the opportunity to get vaccinated during routine clinic visits, we are establishing a consistent billing process across the organization. It will be $45 and charged to insurance. COVID-19 vaccines will continue to be 100% free to all individuals, regardless of insurance status. Only insurance companies will be billed this administration fee, never patients.”
The bill will apply to those who will be receiving their first COVID-19 vaccine dose on or after June 1. Those who received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose before June 1 will not be billed for the administration of the second dose. Those with insurance coverage will be asked to bring a copy of their insurance cards to the appointment.
DCPH has historically administered the Moderna vaccine and will continue to offer it as well as the Pfizer vaccine, which was recently approved to be administered to those ages 12 years and up. DCPH will begin offering the Pfizer vaccine the week of June 1 and will host a COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic on Wednesday, June 2 from 1:30 pm until 4:00 pm for those ages 12 and older. An online link to self-schedule will be provided on Lakes Regional Healthcare’s Facebook page and on their website at www.lakeshealth.org. LRFM will also offer the Pfizer vaccine to patients at regularly scheduled appointments.
To make an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine, call DCPH at 712-339-6050.
