The Strengthening the Vaccines for Children Program Act of 2026 would expand and reinforce the federal program that provides free childhood vaccines to children who are uninsured, on Medicaid, or in the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The bill explicitly adds CHIP-enrolled children to the federally vaccine-eligible category and sets minimum Medicaid payment for vaccine administration and counseling at 100 percent of the Medicare Part B rate through December 31, 2028. States that ensure 'culturally competent and effective' vaccination outreach would get a one-percentage-point Federal Medical Assistance Percentage bump for Medicaid. The bill also creates a data-sharing pathway between the CDC and Tribal Epidemiology Centers, requires CDC to publish vaccination rates disaggregated by region, age, sex, race, and ethnicity for fiscal years 2027 and 2028, and orders a GAO report on the bill's effects on vaccination rates and provider participation. Democratic Rep. Kim Schrier of Washington (a pediatrician) leads the bill with Republican Rep. John Joyce of Pennsylvania.
Average Household Impact
- Vaccines for Children Program eligibility — Expanded to include CHIP-enrolled children
- Medicaid vaccine administration payment — Set to minimum 100% of Medicare Part B rate through December 31, 2028
Transparency & Accountability
- CDC vaccination-rate disclosure — Public reporting required for FY2027 and FY2028 disaggregated by region, age, sex, race, ethnicity
- GAO oversight — Two-year retrospective report required on bill's effects on vaccination rates and provider participation
Congressional Summary
Strengthening the Vaccines for Children Program Act of 2026This bill expands vaccination programs and coverage for children under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).Specifically, the bill expands and otherwise modifies the Vaccines for Children Program, which provides free vaccinations to individuals 18 years of age or younger who are uninsured or underinsured (i.e., with limited or no insurance for vaccines), are eligible for Medicaid, or are American Indians or Alaskan Natives. The bill expands the program to include children enrolled in CHIP. The Government Accountability Office must report on the related effects of the bill's changes.The bill also temporarily requires payments under Medicaid and CHIP for vaccine administration and counseling services for children to be made at a rate that is no less than the rate under Medicare for equivalent services. It also increases the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (i.e., federal matching rate) for states that conduct culturally appropriate outreach regarding the benefits of vaccinations for children.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2026-04-21
- Date Added
- 2026-05-13
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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