Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has directed the state’s insurers to provide coverage for vaccines endorsed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH).
This directive positions Massachusetts as the inaugural US state to mandate such insurance coverage, irrespective of narrower recommendations that may be issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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The announcement comes as insurers typically align with the CDC’s expert panel for guidance on administering Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccines.
The panel is set to convene on 18 September to deliberate on the agency’s Covid-19 vaccine recommendations, reported Reuters.
This state-level policy emerges amidst federal actions that have been perceived as restricting vaccine access.
Governor Healey said: “Massachusetts has the best healthcare in the world. We won’t let Donald Trump and Robert Kennedy get between patients and their doctors. When the federal government fails to protect public health, Massachusetts will step up. The actions we are announcing today will make sure people can continue to get the vaccines they need and want in Massachusetts.”
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By GlobalDataThe governor has outlined a tripartite strategy to uphold vaccine accessibility in Massachusetts.
The first step involves a bulletin from the Division of Insurance (DOI) and DPH, instructing insurance carriers to cover vaccines recommended by the DPH and not depend entirely on CDC recommendations.
The second measure addresses the ability of Massachusetts residents to receive the Covid-19 vaccine at local pharmacies, a response to the challenges faced due to the federal government’s narrowed vaccine recommendations.
The DPH has revised its vaccine administration policy, enabling the commissioner to authorise which vaccines pharmacists can administer, beyond those recommended by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices.
The third component of Governor Healey’s approach involves spearheading a collaborative public health effort with other states in the New England and north-east regions.
The initiative aims to fortify public health capabilities in light of the federal government’s retreat from certain public health obligations.
