Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110
§1396s Program for Distribution of Pediatric Vaccines
Title 42 › CHAPTER 7 — SOCIAL SECURITY › SUBCHAPTER XIX — GRANTS TO STATES FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS › § 1396s
Summary
Each State must run a pediatric vaccine distribution program so that eligible children can get certain vaccines without paying for the vaccine itself. Starting October 1, 1994, any child who qualifies and gets a covered vaccine from a provider registered in the program must receive the vaccine free of charge. Registered providers also get vaccines for free and the program won’t send vaccines to providers who are not registered. The federal Secretary will buy and deliver the needed vaccine supplies to each State (or directly to tribes) at no charge to the State. If a vaccine is in short supply, the Secretary will set priorities, giving priority to federally eligible children unless there is another public health reason. If a State makes a vaccine, the Secretary may pay the State the value of the vaccines instead, if the State uses that money only for child immunizations. The Secretary must negotiate contracts and prices with manufacturers, keep an extra six months’ supply for unexpected needs, allow multiple suppliers when appropriate, and let States buy extra vaccine at the negotiated price for children who are not federally eligible if the State agrees and gives required information. A “vaccine-eligible child” is either federally eligible or a child in a class a State chooses to cover. Federally eligible children include Medicaid-eligible children, uninsured children, children vaccinated at certain public clinics who lack vaccine coverage, and Indian children. Providers must be licensed, sign an agreement, ask parents questions to check eligibility, keep records, follow recommended vaccine schedules unless medically inappropriate, give the vaccine free, and may charge an administration fee limited for federally eligible children and not deny vaccine if a parent can’t pay. The program must encourage private and Indian health providers to join and help find providers who can serve populations with limited English. The Secretary uses the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices list to decide which vaccines are covered. A “child” means anyone 18 or younger; “immunization” means protection against a vaccine-preventable disease; other terms like “manufacturer,” “parent,” “pediatric vaccine,” and “qualified pediatric vaccine” are defined in the law. The program ends if a future federal law makes immunizations part of a broad national health reform.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §1396s
The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Establishment of program
(1)In general
In order to meet the requirement of section 1396a(a)(62) of this title, each State shall establish a pediatric vaccine distribution program (which may be administered by the State department of health), consistent with the requirements of this section, under which—
(A)each vaccine-eligible child (as defined in subsection (b)), in receiving an immunization with a qualified pediatric vaccine (as defined in subsection (h)(8)) from a program-registered provider (as defined in subsection (c)) on or after October 1, 1994, is entitled to receive the immunization without charge for the cost of such vaccine; and
(B)(i)each program-registered provider who administers such a pediatric vaccine to a vaccine-eligible child on or after such date is entitled to receive such vaccine under the program without charge either for the vaccine or its delivery to the provider, and (ii) no vaccine is distributed under the program to a provider unless the provider is a program-registered provider.
(2)Delivery of sufficient quantities of pediatric vaccines to immunize federally vaccine-eligible children
(A)In general
The Secretary shall provide under subsection (d) for the purchase and delivery on behalf of each State meeting the requirement of section 1396a(a)(62) of this title (or, with respect to vaccines administered by an Indian tribe or tribal organization to Indian children, directly to the tribe or organization), without charge to the State, of such quantities of qualified pediatric vaccines as may be necessary for the administration of such vaccines to all federally vaccine-eligible children in the State on or after October 1, 1994. This paragraph constitutes budget authority in advance of appropriations Acts, and represents the obligation of the Federal Government to provide for the purchase and delivery to States of the vaccines (or payment under subparagraph (C)) in accordance with this paragraph.
(B)Special rules where vaccine is unavailable
To the extent that a sufficient quantity of a vaccine is not available for purchase or delivery under subsection (d), the Secretary shall provide for the purchase and delivery of the available vaccine in accordance with priorities established by the Secretary, with priority given to federally vaccine-eligible children unless the Secretary finds there are other public health considerations.
(C)Special rules where State is a manufacturer
(i)Payments in lieu of vaccines
In the case of a State that manufactures a pediatric vaccine the Secretary, instead of providing the vaccine on behalf of a State under subparagraph (A), shall provide to the State an amount equal to the value of the quantity of such vaccine that otherwise would have been delivered on behalf of the State under such subparagraph, but only if the State agrees that such payments will only be used for purposes relating to pediatric immunizations.
(ii)Determination of value
In determining the amount to pay a State under clause (i) with respect to a pediatric vaccine, the value of the quantity of vaccine shall be determined on the basis of the price in effect for the qualified pediatric vaccine under contracts under subsection (d). If more than 1 such contract is in effect, the Secretary shall determine such value on the basis of the average of the prices under the contracts, after weighting each such price in relation to the quantity of vaccine under the contract involved.
(b)Vaccine-eligible children
For purposes of this section: (1) In general
(2)Federally vaccine-eligible child
(A)In general
The term “federally vaccine-eligible child” means any of the following children:
(i)A medicaid-eligible child.
(ii)A child who is not insured.
(iii)A child who (I) is administered a qualified pediatric vaccine by a federally-qualified health center (as defined in section 1396d(l)(2)(B) of this title) or a rural health clinic (as defined in section 1396d(l)(1) of this title), and (II) is not insured with respect to the vaccine.
(iv)A child who is an Indian (as defined in subsection (h)(3)).
(B)Definitions
In subparagraph (A):
(i)The term “medicaid-eligible” means, with respect to a child, a child who is entitled to medical assistance under a state plan approved under this subchapter.
(ii)The term “insured” means, with respect to a child—
(I)for purposes of subparagraph (A)(ii), that the child is enrolled under, and entitled to benefits under, a health insurance policy or plan, including a group health plan, a prepaid health plan, or an employee welfare benefit plan under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 [29 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.]; and
(II)for purposes of subparagraph (A)(iii)(II) with respect to a pediatric vaccine, that the child is entitled to benefits under such a health insurance policy or plan, but such benefits are not available with respect to the cost of the pediatric vaccine.
(3)State vaccine-eligible child
The term “State vaccine-eligible child” means, with respect to a State and a qualified pediatric vaccine, a child who is within a class of children for which the State is purchasing the vaccine pursuant to subsection (d)(4)(B).
(c)Program-registered providers
(1)Defined
In this section, except as otherwise provided, the term “program-registered provider” means, with respect to a State, any health care provider that—
(A)is licensed or otherwise authorized for administration of pediatric vaccines under the law of the State in which the administration occurs (subject to section 254f(e) of this title), without regard to whether or not the provider participates in the plan under this subchapter;
(B)submits to the State an executed provider agreement described in paragraph (2); and
(C)has not been found, by the Secretary or the State, to have violated such agreement or other applicable requirements established by the Secretary or the State consistent with this section.
(2)Provider agreement
A provider agreement for a provider under this paragraph is an agreement (in such form and manner as the Secretary may require) that the provider agrees as follows:
(A)(i)Before administering a qualified pediatric vaccine to a child, the provider will ask a parent of the child such questions as are necessary to determine whether the child is a vaccine-eligible child, but the provider need not independently verify the answers to such questions.
(ii)The provider will, for a period of time specified by the Secretary, maintain records of responses made to the questions.
(iii)The provider will, upon request, make such records available to the State and to the Secretary, subject to section 1396a(a)(7) of this title.
(B)(i)Subject to clause (ii), the provider will comply with the schedule, regarding the appropriate periodicity, dosage, and contraindications applicable to pediatric vaccines, that is established and periodically reviewed and, as appropriate, revised by the advisory committee referred to in subsection (e), except in such cases as, in the provider’s medical judgment subject to accepted medical practice, such compliance is medically inappropriate.
(ii)The provider will provide pediatric vaccines in compliance with applicable State law, including any such law relating to any religious or other exemption.
(C)(i)In administering a qualified pediatric vaccine to a vaccine-eligible child, the provider will not impose a charge for the cost of the vaccine. A program-registered provider is not required under this section to administer such a vaccine to each child for whom an immunization with the vaccine is sought from the provider.
(ii)The provider may impose a fee for the administration of a qualified pediatric vaccine so long as the fee in the case of a federally vaccine-eligible child does not exceed the costs of such administration (as determined by the Secretary based on actual regional costs for such administration).
(iii)The provider will not deny administration of a qualified pediatric vaccine to a vaccine-eligible child due to the inability of the child’s parent to pay an administration fee.
(3)Encouraging involvement of providers
Each program under this section shall provide, in accordance with criteria established by the Secretary—
(A)for encouraging the following to become program-registered providers: private health care providers, the Indian Health Service, health care providers that receive funds under title V of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act [25 U.S.C. 1651 et seq.], and health programs or facilities operated by Indian tribes or tribal organizations; and
(B)for identifying, with respect to any population of vaccine-eligible children a substantial portion of whose parents have a limited ability to speak the English language, those program-registered providers who are able to communicate with the population involved in the language and cultural context that is most appropriate.
(4)State requirements
Except as the Secretary may permit in order to prevent fraud and abuse and for related purposes, a State may not impose additional qualifications or conditions, in addition to the requirements of paragraph (1), in order that a provider qualify as a program-registered provider under this section. This subsection does not limit the exercise of State authority under section 1396n(b) of this title.
(d)Negotiation of contracts with manufacturers
(1)In general
For the purpose of meeting obligations under this section, the Secretary shall negotiate and enter into contracts with manufacturers of pediatric vaccines consistent with the requirements of this subsection and, to the maximum extent practicable, consolidate such contracting with any other contracting activities conducted by the Secretary to purchase vaccines. The Secretary may enter into such contracts under which the Federal Government is obligated to make outlays, the budget authority for which is not provided for in advance in appropriations Acts, for the purchase and delivery of pediatric vaccines under subsection (a)(2)(A).
(2)Authority to decline contracts
The Secretary may decline to enter into such contracts and may modify or extend such contracts.
(3)Contract price
(A)In general
The Secretary, in negotiating the prices at which pediatric vaccines will be purchased and delivered from a manufacturer under this subsection, shall take into account quantities of vaccines to be purchased by States under the option under paragraph (4)(B).
(B)Negotiation of discounted price for current vaccines
With respect to contracts entered into under this subsection for a pediatric vaccine for which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a contract in effect under section 247b(j)(1) of this title as of May 1, 1993, no price for the purchase of such vaccine for vaccine-eligible children shall be agreed to by the Secretary under this subsection if the price per dose of such vaccine (including delivery costs and any applicable excise tax established under section 4131 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) exceeds the price per dose for the vaccine in effect under such a contract as of such date increased by the percentage increase in the consumer price index for all urban consumers (all items; United States city average) from May 1993 to the month before the month in which such contract is entered into.
(C)Negotiation of discounted price for new vaccines
With respect to contracts entered into for a pediatric vaccine not described in subparagraph (B), the price for the purchase of such vaccine shall be a discounted price negotiated by the Secretary that may be established without regard to such subparagraph.
(4)Quantities and terms of delivery
Under such contracts—
(A)the Secretary shall provide, consistent with paragraph (6), for the purchase and delivery on behalf of States (and tribes and tribal organizations) of quantities of pediatric vaccines for federally vaccine-eligible children; and
(B)each State, at the option of the State, shall be permitted to obtain additional quantities of pediatric vaccines (subject to amounts specified to the Secretary by the State in advance of negotiations) through purchasing the vaccines from the manufacturers at the applicable price negotiated by the Secretary consistent with paragraph (3), if (i) the State agrees that the vaccines will be used to provide immunizations only for children who are not federally vaccine-eligible children and (ii) the State provides to the Secretary such information (at a time and manner specified by the Secretary, including in advance of negotiations under paragraph (1)) as the Secretary determines to be necessary, to provide for quantities of pediatric vaccines for the State to purchase pursuant to this subsection and to determine annually the percentage of the vaccine market that is purchased pursuant to this section and this subparagraph.
The Secretary shall enter into the initial negotiations under the preceding sentence not later than 180 days after August 10, 1993.
(5)Charges for shipping and handling
The Secretary may enter into a contract referred to in paragraph (1) only if the manufacturer involved agrees to submit to the Secretary such reports as the Secretary determines to be appropriate to assure compliance with the contract and if, with respect to a State program under this section that does not provide for the direct delivery of qualified pediatric vaccines, the manufacturer involved agrees that the manufacturer will provide for the delivery of the vaccines on behalf of the State in accordance with such program and will not impose any charges for the costs of such delivery (except to the extent such costs are provided for in the price established under paragraph (3)).
(6)Assuring adequate supply of vaccines
The Secretary, in negotiations under paragraph (1), shall negotiate for quantities of pediatric vaccines such that an adequate supply of such vaccines will be maintained to meet unanticipated needs for the vaccines. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the Secretary shall negotiate for a 6-month supply of vaccines in addition to the quantity that the Secretary otherwise would provide for in such negotiations. In carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary shall consider the potential for outbreaks of the diseases with respect to which the vaccines have been developed.
(7)Multiple suppliers
In the case of the pediatric vaccine involved, the Secretary shall, as appropriate, enter into a contract referred to in paragraph (1) with each manufacturer of the vaccine that meets the terms and conditions of the Secretary for an award of such a contract (including terms and conditions regarding safety and quality). With respect to multiple contracts entered into pursuant to this paragraph, the Secretary may have in effect different prices under each of such contracts and, with respect to a purchase by States pursuant to paragraph (4)(B), the Secretary shall determine which of such contracts will be applicable to the purchase.
(e)Use of pediatric vaccines list
The Secretary shall use, for the purpose of the purchase, delivery, and administration of pediatric vaccines under this section, the list established (and periodically reviewed and as appropriate revised) by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (an advisory committee established by the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
(f)Requirement of State maintenance of immunization laws
In the case of a State that had in effect as of May 1, 1993, a law that requires some or all health insurance policies or plans to provide some coverage with respect to a pediatric vaccine, a State program under this section does not comply with the requirements of this section unless the State certifies to the Secretary that the State has not modified or repealed such law in a manner that reduces the amount of coverage so required.
(g)Termination
This section, and the requirement of section 1396a(a)(62) of this title, shall cease to be in effect beginning on such date as may be prescribed in Federal law providing for immunization services for all children as part of a broad-based reform of the national health care system.
(h)Definitions
For purposes of this section: (1)
(2)The term “immunization” means an immunization against a vaccine-preventable disease.
(3)The terms “Indian”, “Indian tribe” and “tribal organization” have the meanings given such terms in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act [25 U.S.C. 1603].
(4)The term “manufacturer” means any corporation, organization, or institution, whether public or private (including Federal, State, and local departments, agencies, and instrumentalities), which manufactures, imports, processes, or distributes under its label any pediatric vaccine. The term “manufacture” means to manufacture, import, process, or distribute a vaccine.
(5)The term “parent” includes, with respect to a child, an individual who qualifies as a legal guardian under State law.
(6)The term “pediatric vaccine” means a vaccine included on the list under subsection (e).
(7)The term “program-registered provider” has the meaning given such term in subsection (c).
(8)The term “qualified pediatric vaccine” means a pediatric vaccine with respect to which a contract is in effect under subsection (d).
(9)The terms “vaccine-eligible child”, “federally vaccine-eligible child”, and “State vaccine-eligible child” have the meaning given such terms in subsection (b).
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, referred to in subsec. (b)(2)(B)(ii)(I), is Pub. L. 93–406, Sept. 2, 1974, 88 Stat. 829, which is classified principally to chapter 18 (§ 1001 et seq.) of Title 29, Labor. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 1001 of Title 29 and Tables. The Indian Health Care Improvement Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(3)(A), is Pub. L. 94–437, Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 1400. Title V of the Act is classified generally to subchapter IV (§ 1651 et seq.) of chapter 18 of Title 25, Indians. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 1601 of Title 25 and Tables. The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, referred to in subsec. (d)(3)(B), is classified generally to Title 26, Internal Revenue Code.
Prior Provisions
A prior section 1396s, act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title XIX, § 1928, formerly § 1920, as added Apr. 7, 1986, Pub. L. 99–272, title IX, § 9526, 100 Stat. 218, and renumbered and amended, which related to references to laws directly affecting medicaid program, was renumbered section 1931 of act Aug. 14, 1935, by Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, § 13631(b)(1), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 637, and transferred to section 1396v of this title.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section applicable to payments under State plans approved under this subchapter for calendar quarters beginning on or after Oct. 1, 1994, see section 13631(i) of Pub. L. 103–66, set out as an
Effective Date
of 1993 Amendment note under section 1396a of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 1396s
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Sep 23, 2026
Release point: 119-110