nc_coder
Expert
We are a Family Practice that administers the Zostavax vaccine for shingles. Medicare does not pay for this when done in our office, but if the patient were to go to a pharmacy and have the pharmacist administer the vaccine, their Part D would pay. The patients are left with a bill for over $200 when it is done in our office. We are not educating the patients at all on this and not even warning the patients up front that Medicare does not pay. The only time they are told is if they specifically ask if it is covered. I have asked our office manager before if we should be telling the patients upfront or have them sign a waiver. She says we don't have to if it is a charge that is routinely denied by Medicare and it is the patient's responsibility to know what is covered. I'm not sure I completely agree. I just wanted to see what others thought about this situation.