GROUP SEEKS BETTER IMMUNIZATION ACCESS

A report issued in August by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention listed Missouri tied dead last in 49th place in immunization of young children.

It is an unacceptable but easily remedied situation, says the Partnership for Children, a policy group based in Kansas City that focuses on children's issues.

The group is encouraging the Missouri General Assembly to pass the Children's Immunization Reform Act this session as a step toward helping more Missouri children become immunized.

"Some issues are so complex you don't know where to begin," said Lisa Atkins, director of public affairs for the Partnership for Children. "This is an issue where the citizens of Missouri and the legislature can make an immediate difference."

The legislation has two components: The first would allow parents to give written permission for their children to be taken by another responsible adult to be immunized; the second would require insurance providers to cover immunization of children 36 months and younger without demanding a deductible, co-payment or co-insurance.

The legislation is modeled on a similar law the Partnership for Children helped pass in Kansas last year. The Kansas Senate unanimously approved the measure while it passed in the House with just eight dissenting votes.

Sponsors of the bill in Missouri hope for a similar bipartisan effort. Rep. Scott Lakin, D-Kansas City, and Sen. Roaseann Bentley, R-Springfield, are primary sponsors in their respective chambers.

Atkins said that although most parents prefer to take their children in for immunizations themselves, that is not always possible. Having the option to delegate that responsibility to a grandparent, aunt or uncle, older sibling or another adult would prove helpful, she said.

Bentley agreed: "It is such a different world we live in now. So many families have both parents working at the same hours clinics and doctors' offices are open. It seems that any barrier that can be removed would be helpful."

While it is doubtful any nefarious reasons exist for someone to take a child in for an unauthorized immunization, Atkins said many providers will not immunize children unless a parent is present.

"They are probably cautious for any number of reasons, but there is no clear legal authority one way or the other," Atkins said.

The requirement for insurance providers to cover immunizations not only would eliminate a barrier to immunization but would provide long-term cost savings, Atkins said.

"There is nothing more effective than immunization for children," said Atkins.

Every $1 spent on vaccines saves an average $10 in other health-related expenses, Atkins said. For the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine the savings is $21 and for polio it shoots to $30 in savings per $1 spent, she added.

"Some plans may provide it and more may offer it for an additional fee, but we found that the vast majority do not provide it for basic coverage," she said. The insurance plan for state employees covers childhood immunization, she pointed out.

Atkins said middle-income families with at least some insurance coverage would be affected. Poorer children are usually served by various state organizations.

"The funny thing is the children missing in this case are part of that middle group who have insurance coverage but do not have insurance that provides this," Atkins said.

At least 10 organizations, including the Missouri State Medical Association and the Association of School Nurses, have voiced support of the measure.

Political support is also building. "Some representatives have called and said they heard about it and want in," Atkins said.

Bentley said two of her colleagues in the Senate have already asked to sign on as co-sponsors and anticipates more will join.

"We can save children and parents pain and suffering and also save the state money by passing this, and I think it is long overdue," Bentley said.