Medicare AdvantageAdministrativeLow impact
Discuss Flu Shots and Other Vaccines with Our Members
BCBS Montana·MT · Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics +2 more·General
Effective date
Aug 18, 2026
We identified it
Aug 19, 2026
Summary
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana is issuing a provider education notice encouraging discussion of flu, COVID-19, and other vaccines with members to improve immunization rates and close care gaps. This is an informational policy update with no billing code changes or prior authorization requirements—it emphasizes quality measure tracking for immunization status across pediatric, adolescent, and adult populations.
Action Required
No immediate billing system changes required. By September 1, 2026: Providers and clinical staff should review the Adult Immunization Status, Child Immunization Status, and Immunizations for Adolescents quality measures outlined in this policy. Educate clinical teams on recommended vaccines (flu, Td/Tdap, herpes zoster/shingles, pneumococcal, hepatitis B, and RSV for eligible populations). Ensure proper documentation and coding of vaccine administration visits in the EMR to support HEDIS quality reporting. Billing team should verify member eligibility and benefits for preventive vaccine services at every visit, as coverage for no cost-share preventive care varies by benefit plan. Reference the Quality Care 2026 HEDIS booklet in Availity Essentials for documentation and coding guidance. No coverage denials are expected for compliant vaccine services.