Medicaid MCOs Try Outreach, Cash to Move Needle on Vaccines

Sep 03
Sep 03, 2021

As the COVID-19 pandemic has entered a grim new phase thanks to the virulent Delta variant, the need to vaccinate everyone eligible has become even more urgent. State public health data and polls indicate that Medicaid beneficiaries are disproportionately likely to be unvaccinated — something that safety net health plans are working hard to change.

Medicaid MCOs across the country are using all the tools at their disposal to encourage their members to get vaccinated — some Medicaid health plans are even offering members cash incentives. Plans are also helping members schedule vaccination appointments and arranging transportation to them. And MCOs are working to persuade members that vaccines are safe and effective, even as the rollout of vaccine booster shots is being discussed by the Biden administration.
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Peter Johnson

Peter has worked as a journalist since 2011 and has covered health care since 2020. At AIS Health, Peter covers trends in finance, business and policy that affect the health insurance and pharma sectors. For Health Plan Weekly, he covers all aspects of the U.S. health insurance sector, including employer-sponsored insurance, Medicaid managed care, Medicare Advantage and the Affordable Care Act individual marketplaces. In Radar on Drug Benefits, Peter covers the operations of (and conflicts between) pharmacy benefit managers and pharmaceutical manufacturers, with a particular focus on pricing dynamics and market access. Before joining AIS Health, Peter covered transportation, public safety and local government for various outlets in Seattle, his hometown and current place of residence. He graduated with a B.A. from Colby College.