Future Vaccinations Will Be Offered Without Cost By CentraCare

(KNSI) – The federal government has extended the COVID-19 state of emergency until June, meaning testing and vaccinations are provided without out-of-pocket cost for at least two more months. Sherri Liebl and Dr. George Morris of Centracare say they’ve heard rumblings that another extension to September is likely.

At some point, though, the emergency will end. That will not lead to a big change for area residents. Liebl says Centracare will continue to offer vaccines to everyone with the promise of no future medical bills to stress over.

“If the patient has insurance, we are going to bill insurance. If insurance comes back with a portion owing by the patient, that will not be billed to the patient. As well is true with a patient who has no insurance…Those patients will not have an out-of-pocket [cost].”

The South Point COVID-19 vaccine clinic closes today, and Morris says offering the shots will be absorbed into the rest of the system. Clinics that provide tetanus or MMR vaccines will also handle COVID-19 inoculations going forward. Morris says the policy to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for people getting the jab has had extremely positive consequences in the past year and a half.

“When we look at Central Minnesota, it’s 2,600 lives saved.”

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