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Shield Act to protect pediatricians' quality scores advances; supporters call it a math fix
Summary
House Bill 22-43 (the "Shield Act") would adjust quality-metric calculations so pediatricians are not penalized when families follow new federal guidance on vaccines; the subcommittee advanced the bill 6–1 after testimony from clinicians and a technical architect.
Chairman Martin explained that House Bill 22-43 updates how quality metrics are calculated in managed-care contracts so pediatric providers are not financially penalized when families make individualized decisions, aligning state payment calculations with recent federal guidance.
Drew Schonacker, a private citizen who worked as the bill's technical architect with sponsors, said the change is a structural fix that mandates MCOs remove patients from the quality-score denominator when a family makes an individualized decision. "This corrects the math, protects the clinic's operating margin, and keeps their doors open," Schonacker said, explaining that quality bonuses can account for 10–12% of gross revenue in some pediatric practices.
Supporters said the change protects independent pediatricians and preserves access by keeping clinics solvent; committee members moved the previous question and voted to send HB 22-43 to full Insurance (6 ayes, 1 nay).
