Costs Related to Provider Recruitment Into Immunization Information Systems

Background: Immunization Information Systems (IIS) provide valuable data for public health programmatic planning and resource allocation.  In some states, participation in an immunization registry is mandatory but in states without a mandate, the recruitment of providers who administer vaccines can be challenging but necessary to assure a complete and robust data source.   Resources are scarce and IIS activities can be limited to critical functions during budget restrictions.  IIS projects may be able to apply for short-term funding to target recruitment if costs can be appropriately projected. 

Objectives: To evaluate the cost effectiveness related to targeted provider recruitment over a six month period in urban and rural counties with relatively high child saturation rates for 0 – 3 year olds.

Methods: Fourteen counties (six urban and eight rural counties with similar economic profiles and geography) were targeted for provider recruitment to increase saturation rates.   Counties were selected based on the proximity of their current saturation rate for children 0 – 3 years of age to the minimum required saturation rate of 80%. Dedicated contract staff in addition to existing IIS staff was utilized for the recruitment activities.  Funds were used to support technology enhancements and data entry.

Results: A total of $80,573 was spent to recruit 25 practices in the fourteen counties. Staff resources costs, technology enhancements and data entry costs varied.  Collectively, the saturation rate in the fourteen counties rose from 77% to 83% over the six month period. For each percentage point increase $13,428 was spent.

Conclusions: There is significant expense in personnel and technology costs to recruit providers in counties with an already relatively high saturation rate. IIS resources may need to be enhanced to realize higher provider saturation rates in states that do not have a provider participation mandate.