Virginians have now received more than 8.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine. None of those shots were supposed to come with a bill to be covered by the patient. But that’s what appeared to have happened to a Southwest Virginia eye doctor early this year.
Like many health care workers, Jed Harrison was able to register for his shots in January.
“I was excited to get the vaccine pretty early on, and we had an opportunity through my employer to go to the hospital and get the vaccine done in the same health district where I work,” he said.
Harrison, an optometrist who works in Hillsville and Dublin, was asked by Twin County Regional Healthcare in Galax to provide insurance information when getting the vaccine. But he wasn’t concerned, that is, until early May, when he got a notice from the hospital, saying he could owe $158.
“When I told them than my health share plan would not be covering it, they said ‘well, the responsibility’s now on you. This is a payment that you need to make,” he said. “And I was completely astounded that they would something they would even consider. Because you hear the whole time the vaccine is free. This is the last thing at this point that I would be paying a bill for.”
Radio IQ contacted Twin County Regional Healthcare. Spokeswoman Betty Elmore says the hospital became aware of an error in its billing system, in which about 30 of its more than 5,000 vaccine recipients got this letter. The hospital has since reached out Harrison and the others, telling them to disregard the notices.
"Our team is working quickly to resolve this issue in our system and are following up with all patients who may have been impacted," Elmore said.
State health officials say they have not heard of similar reports elsewhere.
Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says such incidents have happened, although it’s not a widespread issue.
The Centers for Disease Control says all COVID vaccines are to be provided at no cost, although providers can seek reimbursement through insurance for an administration fee.
For those who believe they were incorrectly charged for the vaccine, recipients are encouraged to contact the Department of Health and Human Services, by going to the Office of Inspector General's hotline complaint website.
