MedicaidAdministrativeLow impact
HealthChoice COVID-19 Incentive Policy
Maryland Medicaid·MD·Provider Transmittal
Effective date
Jan 1, 2022
We identified it
Jun 20, 2026
Summary
Maryland Medicaid is implementing a COVID-19 vaccination incentive program for HealthChoice MCOs that pays $100 per fully vaccinated enrollee (ages 12+) who become vaccinated between December 15, 2021 and March 31, 2022. Payments are distributed monthly based on vaccination tranches tracked through ImmuNet data, with each MCO having a specific tranche size. This is a managed care organization (MCO) incentive program, not a direct provider billing change, but practices should be aware of increased vaccination tracking and potential workflow coordination with their MCO partners.
Action Required
This policy primarily impacts Maryland Medicaid MCOs, not individual healthcare provider billing operations. Medical billing teams should: (1) Understand that this incentive program may result in increased COVID-19 vaccination requests from HealthChoice members during the January-March 2022 period; (2) Ensure vaccination encounters are properly documented and reported to allow MCOs to claim incentive payments through ImmuNet; (3) Coordinate with contracting MCOs to confirm any documentation or reporting requirements specific to this program. No billing code changes, prior authorization updates, or claim submission modifications are required by providers. Note: This policy window has already expired (ended March 31, 2022); it is included here for historical reference only.