| | | Frequently Asked Questions
The MVB carefully considers questions posed by providers, payers and others interested in its work. It responds to items of general interest from time to time via these FAQs on this website. These FAQs also guide MVB’s service provider in administering its assessment and vaccine funding work.
Federal Vaccines for Children (VFC)
FAQs for Providers
FAQs for Payers
All Questions
Federally Funded Vaccines for Children
 G01. Has anything changed for the federally funded Vaccines for Children (VFC)?
G02. Do providers need to screen for VFC eligibility?
G03. Do providers need to put vaccines for privately insured children in a different refrigerator from federally funded vaccines?
FAQ for Providers
P01. What is the Universal Childhood Immunization Program?
P02. Are adults covered under this program?
P03. When does this program start?
P04. How does this law affect how Medical Providers currently receive vaccines from the Maine Immunization Program?
 P05. What will be the main changes to my office?
The Maine Immunization Program will operate much the same as it currently does. Availability of state supplied vaccines will be expanded to all children and more vaccine choices will be available. Vaccine ordering and accountability processes are expected to remain relatively the same. All providers who receive state supplied vaccine will be required to use the ImmPact2 Immunization Information System for ordering and vaccine accounting.
P06. What are the benefits to my office?
Benefits include:
Receive state supplied vaccine at no cost for all children in your practice.
Maintain continuity of care: All of your patients receive immunizations in their medical home.
This promotes:
-Fewer missed opportunities: Children won’t miss immunizations due to being referred elsewhere.
-Knowing if a child is up-to-date for immunizations when treating them for other illnesses.
-No need for up-front purchase of childhood vaccines.
-No need to keep two separate inventories of vaccine for VFC Children and privately insured children.
-Access valuable public health resources for your practice:
- Staff training.
- Technical assistance on vaccine and immunization issues.
- Best practices in vaccine storage and handling:
- Inventory management, temperature monitoring, and vaccine ordering.
- Information about new vaccines, schedules, and vaccine supply issues.
- Help measuring, promoting and achieving high immunization coverage rates for your practice.
-More combination vaccines will be available through this program:
- Fewer needle sticks will be needed to fully vaccinate a child.
- Acceptance of more scheduled vaccines can be achieved.
- Rates can be improved with the effective use of combination vaccines.
P07. How will this program affect patients?
P08. What will providers have to do differently?
P09. How can I participate?
Office Procedure Questions
P10. Do I need to screen for VFC (Vaccines for Children) eligibility?
P11. Will we need to separate our vaccines (insured /VFC) in the refrigerator?
P12. Will healthcare providers still need to complete the required vaccine reports to public health in addition to the new track...
Vaccine Purchasing Questions
P13. What vaccines are covered by the Universal Childhood Immunization Program?
P14. Should I buy seasonal childhood influenza vaccine for next year?
P15. Does the state purchase the nasal spray flu vaccine, Flu mist?
Yes. This vaccine is one of the types of flu vaccine that will be available through the Universal Childhood Vaccine Program.
P16. Will the state still be selecting the vaccines available, or will we have a choice?
As directed by statute, the Maine Vaccine Board determines the list of vaccines to be made available by the Program and will review the selection annually. This vaccine selection is done through the APA rulemaking process and public input is welcome. You can submit questions or input to immunizeme@maine.gov. For the list of vaccines that will be offered initially, please visit the website here.
P17. Will the types of vaccine be different between children with private health insurance and other children?
P18. Will vaccines be allocated?
Not typically. If there is a national shortage or a vaccine is received in multiple shipments (like seasonal childhood influenza vaccine), those vaccines will be allocated. Vaccine orders will continue to be monitored based on past usage and inventory to ensure that physicians and other healthcare providers have no more than 45 days of inventory at any given time. The goal is to make sure physicians and other healthcare providers have enough vaccine to vaccinate children when they are in the office.
P19. What if a vaccine is in shortage or not available through the universal program?
Reimbursement Questions
P20. What if my office no longer wants to participate in the state program but does want to privately purchase and bill for vacci...
This new legislation was designed to reach all children in Maine. It is the goal of the Maine Vaccine Board to implement this program in a way that allows all Maine healthcare providers who care for children to participate fully. The authorizing legislation for this program does not dictate whether health plans or other payers will continue to reimburse providers for any privately purchased vaccines. Each health plan or other payer will make its own policy. Please contact the health plan directly for further information.
P21. Can I still bill the insurers normally for the vaccine administration fee?
P22. What if a patient’s parents/guardian cannot pay the administration fee?
P23. How do I get paid for my privately-purchased childhood vaccines on hand as of January1, 2012?
FAQs for Payers
A01. Are carriers the only ones paying for Maine Vaccines?
A02. How are an entity’s assessments determined?
A03. Are there any other penalties?
A04. Where may I obtain more information?
A05. Where do I go to complete the online assessment?
A06. Are there any tutorials on the use of this system?
Yes. Please click here to access web training. It is available on the web 24/7.
A07. How often do I have to report?
Quarterly. Within 45 days of each July 1, October 1, January 1, and April 1, payers must pay the assessment for the preceding quarter. Accordingly, a quarterly report and payment is due on or before each August 15, November 15, February 15 and May 15 of each fiscal year. The new MVB fiscal year begins each July 1.
A08. If I am a TPA who has determined I have zero covered lives, am I still required to report every quarter?
A09. If our company has no covered lives, but that changes in the future, what do I do?
A10. What if I have already registered, but need to change some of the information?
A11. If I make a mistake in my report, how do I correct it?
A12. If I reported too many covered lives, but have already sent the check, can I be reimbursed?
A13. Do I need to print and send my remittance form with the check?
A14. What address do I send the check to?
A15. When is my remittance considered paid?
A16. If I send the check on the 15th must I overnight it?
No. Regular mail is fine. We will consider your remittance as paid on the date of the postmark.
A17. Can I wire transfer instead?
A18. What if I am late?
A19. Whom do I contact if I have a question or a problem?
A20. Is more information available on how to correct any overpayment or underpayment by my company?
Yes, please email us at info@MEvaccine.org. Please provide the number of covered lives filed and the number that should have been filed. We will make the necessary changes.
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