Last month, the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (NJDOBI) issued guidance directed at health insurers regarding coverage of childhood immunizations, including Hepatitis B. The bulletin requires insurers to continue coverage of all childhood immunizations recommended by the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) without cost-sharing and without the imposition of additional barriers.
The bulletin was issued in response to revised federal guidance from the CDC. Specifically, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to remove the universal Hepatitis B vaccination birth dose from the childhood immunization schedule. Subsequent Hepatitis B vaccination doses are recommended based on serological testing only. However, NJDOH continues to recommend administration of the Hepatitis B vaccination at birth and beyond; thus, state-regulated plans must continue to cover the vaccination accordingly.
The bulletin directly impacts fully insured health policies issued in New Jersey. It also calls on insurers and administrators for out-of-state plans to “encourage” plan sponsors to continue coverage of Hepatitis B vaccinations in accordance with the bulletin.
NJDOBI anticipates action from the CDC regarding other childhood immunizations (in addition to Hepatitis B) as a result of ACIP’s December meeting.