Vaccine Provider Incentive Program: Anthem/Blue Cross/Blue Shield Paid Physicians Extra and Awarded Bonuses for Vaccinated Patients

Key Points:

• There were two main incentive programs for COVID-19 vaccines.
• In the first program, providers were paid extra per vaccinated patient, facilitated through insurance companies.
• The specific distribution amounts to insurance companies, pharmacies, etc. are not publicly disclosed.
• Kentucky Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield shared PDFs about financial incentive programs on their website.
• The first incentive program paid physicians $50 per patient for each COVID-19 vaccine dose in 2021 and 2022.
• The program expanded to include patients of all ages as vaccination age limits decreased.
• The program potentially led to substantial bonuses for physicians based on patient vaccination percentages.
• The second incentive program in 2021 awarded bonuses based on the percentage of patients vaccinated within a practice.
• Calculation examples for varying percentages of patients vaccinated are provided.
• The combined bonus and incentive program could have resulted in significant additional profit for practices.
• The financial incentives may have influenced physicians to promote vaccines.

Read more at rwmalonemd.substack.com