Final Public Notice for the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program

The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) gives notice of the following final actions regarding aligning policy and procedures for vaccine administration to children to match Vaccines for Children (VFC) program guidelines under the State Plan under Title XIX of the Social Security Act Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid).

Effective on or after Sept. 1, 2021, SCDHHS will amend the South Carolina Title XIX State Plan to remove an add-on code for component-based vaccine administration and counseling and reference the correct fee schedule date. Per clarification from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the VFC program does not allow the use of an add-on code, such as current procedural terminology (CPT) code 90461, for component-based vaccine administration and counseling. Based on direction from CMS, SCDHHS has reviewed and will amend a VFC policy it implemented in October 2020.

SCDHHS anticipates an annual projected savings of approximately $364,000 (total dollars).

Copies of this notice are available at each South Carolina Healthy Connections Medicaid county office and at www.scdhhs.gov for public review. Additional information regarding this action is available upon request at the address cited below.

Any written comments submitted may be reviewed by the public at the SCDHHS, Division of Coverage and Benefit Design, Jefferson Square Building, 1801 Main Street, Columbia, South Carolina, Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.