Vaccine Transportation Access Act
Sponsored By: Representative Barragan
Introduced
Summary
Removing transportation barriers to vaccines is the bill’s central aim. It would authorize grants to community organizations to fund rides to vaccination sites and require Medicaid to cover nonemergency vaccine transportation at a 100 percent federal match.
Show full summary
- People in low-income, minority, or other communities where travel blocks care would get funded rides to vaccination sites, including first and last mile trips and prescheduled or on-demand transportation.
- Qualified nonprofit community organizations with federal grant experience could apply for projects that must list partners, roles, and performance measures. Grants must run at least 6 months and recipients must submit an evaluation within 6 months after the project ends.
- The Department of Health and Human Services would work with state health agencies and transfer funds to them. Medicaid would cover nonemergency transportation costs for "eligible vaccines" at a 100 percent federal medical assistance percentage; eligible vaccines include those recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) as of Oct 25, 2024 and vaccines endorsed by U.S. medical societies.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Federal pays 100% for vaccine rides
If enacted, the federal government would pay 100% of state Medicaid costs for nonemergency rides that are needed to get an "eligible vaccine." This would apply only to transportation costs tied to providing eligible vaccines under the State plan and only for costs incurred on or after the date of enactment. The change would remove the usual federal/state cost share for those vaccine rides and could make more transportation services available to Medicaid enrollees.
Grants to pay for vaccine rides
If enacted, HHS would run a grant program to pay for projects that remove transportation barriers to getting "eligible vaccines" in low-income, minority, or other underserved communities. Grants would go to qualified nonprofit community organizations and must last at least 6 months. Funds could pay for prescheduled or on-demand rides and first- and last-mile trips. Applicants must describe the project, list partners and roles, and set performance measures. Grantees must report to HHS within 6 months after the grant ends, and HHS would report to Congress yearly. Money is authorized as "such sums as may be necessary."
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Barragan
CA • D
Cosponsors
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Cohen
TN • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Dingell
MI • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Garcia (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Goldman (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Soto
FL • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Tonko
NY • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Veasey
TX • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Bishop
GA • D
Sponsored 1/8/2026
Randall
WA • D
Sponsored 1/8/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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