Florida’s Vaccines for Children Program: The Basics, Billing Prohibitions, and Overpayment Issues

In the early nineties, the federal Vaccines for Children (VFC) program was created largely in response to the spread of measles among children. The program provides the CDC funding to create and distribute vaccines to states at no cost, specifically for children. Each state, including Florida, participates in the VFC program and has enacted their own rules and regulations governing the operation of the VFC program within their states. This presentation will focus on the Florida VFC program, discussing the foundation of the program, an overview of the basic provisions and rules regulating the program, payment and reimbursement prohibitions for vaccines, and an in-depth discussion of litigation than can arise when insurers mistakenly pay claims for vaccinations improperly billed by providers under the Florida VFC program.