American Association of Health Plans logo February 29, 2000 Mr. Williams C. Watson Jr., Director All Kids Count 750 Commerce Drive, Ste. 200 Decatur, GA 30030 Dear Mr. Watson: The American Association of Health Plans recognizes that immunization registries are an important strategy for increasing and sustaining high immunization rates in the United State. In today’s health care environment, the accurate, up-to-date information that registries provide about the shots that children receive is beneficial to children, parents, health care providers, health plans and schools. High immunization rates face numerous challenges, including: an increasingly complex vaccine schedule, increasingly mobile families, who relocate, change employers and insurers, and change health care providers with increasing frequency; and decreasing awareness of these life-threatening diseases among parents as well as health care professionals. The information provided by population-based immunization registries holds numerous benefits for providers and health plans. The provide: objective measurements, which form the basis for improvement efforts; a record of all patient immunization; adaptation to changing immunization schedules and new vaccines; automated HEDIS reporting; completed immunization records for schools, camps, and day care. In addition, immunization registries can reinforce the concept of a medical home, returning children to their primary care providers. As the professional organization representing over 100 health plans in the United State, The American Association of Health Plan (A.A.H.P.) endorses the development of a nationwide system of community- and state-based immunization registries. A.A.H.P. encourages health plans and providers to participate in the development of immunization registries and to use them to protect the health of their enrollees and the community. Sincerely, Barbara Lardy Director, Medical Affairs 1129 Twentieth Street, N.W. Suite 600 Washington, D.C. 20036 (202) 778-3200 FAX: (202) 331-7487