--- title: Medicare Payment Increase for COVID-19 Vaccine description: On March 15, CMS increased the Medicare payment amount for administering the COVID-19 vaccine. This new and higher payment rate will support important acti image: https://www.medcomsolutions.com/hubfs/solutions_banner_img-373x300.jpg --- - [Home](https://www.medcomsolutions.com) - [Blog](https://www.medcomsolutions.com/blog) - Medicare Payment Increase for COVID-19 Vaccine **March 15, 2021** # Medicare Payment Increase for COVID-19 Vaccine - [** ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.medcomsolutions.com/blog/medicare-payment-increase-for-covid-19-vaccine) - [** ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://www.medcomsolutions.com/blog/medicare-payment-increase-for-covid-19-vaccine&url=https://www.medcomsolutions.com/blog/medicare-payment-increase-for-covid-19-vaccine&source=tweetbutton&text=%3Cspan+id%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper_name%22+class%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper+hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field+hs_cos_wrapper_type_text%22+style%3D%22%22+data-hs-cos-general-type%3D%22meta_field%22+data-hs-cos-type%3D%22text%22+%3EMedicare+Payment+Increase+for+COVID-19+Vaccine%3C%2Fspan%3E) - [** ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.medcomsolutions.com/blog/medicare-payment-increase-for-covid-19-vaccine) ![Medicare Payment Increase for COVID-19 Vaccine](https://www.medcomsolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/solutions_banner_img-373x300.jpg?length=940&name=solutions_banner_img-373x300.jpg) On March 15, CMS increased the Medicare payment amount for administering the COVID-19 vaccine. This new and higher payment rate will support important actions taken by providers that are designed to increase the number of vaccines they can furnish each day, including establishing new or growing existing vaccination sites, conducting patient outreach and education, and hiring additional staff. At a time when vaccine supply is growing, CMS is supporting provider efforts to expand capacity and ensure that all Americans can be vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible. Effective for COVID-19 vaccines administered on or after March 15, 2021, the national average payment rate for physicians, hospitals, pharmacies, and many other immunizers will be $40 to administer each dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. This represents an increase from approximately $28 to $40 for the administration of single-dose vaccines and an increase from approximately $45 to $80 for the administration of COVID-19 vaccines requiring two doses. The exact payment rate for the administration of each dose of a COVID-19 vaccine will depend on the type of entity that furnishes the service and will be geographically adjusted based on where the service is furnished. These updates to the Medicare payment rate for COVID-19 vaccine administration reflect new information about the costs involved in administering the vaccine for different types of providers and suppliers, and the additional resources necessary to ensure the vaccine is administered safely and appropriately. CMS is updating the set of toolkits for providers, states, and insurers to help the health care system swiftly administer the vaccine with these new Medicare payment rates. These resources are designed to increase the number of providers that can administer the vaccine, ensure adequate payment for administering the vaccine to Medicare beneficiaries, and make it clear that no beneficiary, whether covered by private insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid, should pay cost-sharing for the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine. More Information: - [Medicare COVID-19 Vaccine Shot Payment](https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTAzMTUuMzcwMTIwNjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jbXMuZ292L21lZGljYXJlL2NvdmlkLTE5L21lZGljYXJlLWNvdmlkLTE5LXZhY2NpbmUtc2hvdC1wYXltZW50In0.fBtX0V-_tCWGDrCaUp8LnVCwZfEPM4uYtAN0QiWSniw/s/1368694922/br/99925047689-l) webpage: Payment for COVID-19 vaccine administration, including a list of billing codes, payment allowances, and effective dates - [CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program Provider Requirements and Support](https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTAzMTUuMzcwMTIwNjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jZGMuZ292L3ZhY2NpbmVzL2NvdmlkLTE5L3ZhY2NpbmF0aW9uLXByb3ZpZGVyLXN1cHBvcnQuaHRtbCJ9.tlIQgCTrOEmfCknhwOK7nMEidjPVhhF6YY8Mb8GsEZ4/s/1368694922/br/99925047689-l) webpage: How the COVID-19 vaccine is provided at 100% no cost to recipients - [HRSA COVID-19 Claims Reimbursement to Health Care Providers and Facilities for Testing, Treatment, and Vaccine Administration for the Uninsured](https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTAzMTUuMzcwMTIwNjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5ocnNhLmdvdi9Db3ZpZFVuaW5zdXJlZENsYWltIn0.zkxH8XF9l4Ks6cbAJskgXW1xQYxTgQhd2aS8HZgVRkM/s/1368694922/br/99925047689-l) webpage **About MedCom Solutions** MedCom Solutions provides a unique combination of clinical expertise and proprietary technology to help medical service providers meet rapidly escalating and changing medical billing demands. Our Chargemaster, Pricing, and Compliance solutions have yielded hundreds of millions in net revenue for healthcare providers across the country. Learn more about [our solutions](https://medcomsolutions.com/solutions/) or [visit our homepage](https://medcomsolutions.com/) or [contact us](https://medcomsolutions.com/contact/) today! --- -   -   -   ## Recent Posts *June 4, 2026* ### [Look Before You Leap Into Epic: Protect Your Revenue Before the Big Transition](https://www.medcomsolutions.com/blog/look-before-you-leap-into-epic-protect-your-revenue-before-the-big-transition) Epic conversions promise streamlined workflows, modernized patient experiences, and improved integration across clinical and financial systems. But as many hospitals have learned the hard way, an Epic go-live can also expose ... 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