ACIP changed its MenB vaccine recommendation for adolescents not otherwise at increased risk of meningococcal disease from “Category B” to “shared clinical decision-making.” What does this mean? Does the Affordable Care Act (ACA) require health plans (non-grandfathered) to provide benefit coverage on vaccines recommended for shared clinical decision-making?

The terminology change from “Category B” to “shared clinical decision-making” was done to describe more clearly the intent of the recommendation that the patient should be informed of the option to be vaccinated against meningococcal serogroup B disease and that the decision to vaccinate against MenB should be made by the provider and patient together. ACA requires coverage of vaccines as indicated on the recommended immunization schedule, including vaccines with shared clinical decision-making recommendations. The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program also covers vaccines recommended for shared clinical decision-making.