Many citizens (and even our elected representatives) don’t know what the New Hampshire Vaccine Association (NHVA) does, how it operates, and what effect its elimination would have. Below are some questions and answers to shed light on the NHVA and its effects.
Insured children.
No. Federal law requires that insurance companies cover all recommended childhood vaccines. There will be no additional costs to consumers.
Yes. Uninsured and Medicaid covered children receive free vaccines through New Hampshire Vaccines For Children program.
The NHVA process begins with assessments of the insurance companies as to how much money must be paid to the NHVA. The insurance companies are penalized if they do not make the required payment. The money collected by the NHVA is then transferred to the New Hampshire HHS for purchasing childhood vaccines at a discount. The doctors then acquire the vaccines and give them to all their patients for free regardless of whether the vaccine is needed or not.
They would purchase directly through a wholesaler just like they do for adult vaccines. This is the same way pharmacies obtain vaccines currently.
Yes.
Yes, savings will include DHHS employees no longer needed to order, deliver, and monitor vaccines supplied for the benefit of private insurers. This bill supports Governor Ayotte’s COGE initiative.
Yes, so adding the cost of the vaccine to the insurance claim does not create an additional burden.
Unclear. They claim to be, but they do not fill out the federally required Form 990.
Yes. They purchase many different medical supplies upfront.
Studies show they do not increase vaccination rates. See “Examination of universal purchase programs as a driver of vaccine uptake among US States, 1995–2014” [PubMed].
Eliminating NHVA will allow doctors and hospitals to purchase their own vaccines for insured children using their existing group purchasing organizations and manufacturer discount purchase programs, likely saving even more. Additionally, NHVA charges administrative fees that would be eliminated if it is repealed.
The entire purchasing and distribution program has never been audited. $40 million in vaccine purchases with no oversight as to where and how the money is spent and what vaccines are being purchased and who they are being used for.
The vast majority of other states have reviewed this government purchase program and have rejected it because it is excessive, costly, and unnecessary. Only a few states have this program, all of them handed decades-long, no-bid contracts to the administrator who initially promoted this idea.
RSA 126-a:8 removes all liability from all association members, agents, and employees.
