Tuesday, July 22, 2008 | 4:49 p.m.
Officials from UnitedHealthcare, the company that recently took over Sierra Health Services, have reported the rates they pay doctors for the chickenpox vaccine.
A recent Sun story reported that the state has stopped paying for the vaccine for insured patients, which is causing complaints from pediatricians who are uncertain that the reimbursement rates from insurance companies will cover the cost of the vaccine.
Several doctors said they are sending parents with insurance to the Southern Nevada Health District, where they would have to pay $111 cash for the immunization, which is mandated for kindergarten students in the Clark County School District.
UnitedHealthcare in Nevada pays different rates for various patient groups for the vaccine:
Medicare $73.97
Medicaid $80.69
Commercial $96.70
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that each dose costs about $77.
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