For Payers

The Washington State Vaccine Association (WVA), an independent, nonprofit organization created by the state legislature and supported by a private/public partnership, collects these payments and remits the funds to the state. As a result, the state has been able to continue purchasing vaccines at bulk rates for all the state’s children and distribute these vaccines to health care providers at no charge.

What This Means for Payers

• Participation in one of the most efficient and cost-effective systems in the country for purchasing and distributing childhood vaccines.
• Vaccine costs that are below those of private purchase alternatives, as documented by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
• Ability to set up your claim processing system for automatic adjudication.

How the Dosage-Based Assessment Process Works
For details on how providers submit HCFA-1500 forms for administered vaccines, please see For Providers.

Third-Party Administrator (TPA) Registration
Both state-based and out-of-state TPAs are required to register with the Washington Vaccine Association so we can keep you informed of the latest policies, changes, and reductions to vaccine charges. Here’s how:

TPAs based in Washington State:

• As always, if your business is based in Washington State, you are required to register with the state Department of Licensing (DOL) by applying for a master business license.
• If you already have a master business license, you must register with the WVA by updating your license. Before you begin, pull out your existing license to use as reference - it will speed up the process considerably. Here's how to register:
  1. Click here for the TPA section of the Department of Licensing's web site.
  2. On the Third Party Administrator-TPA Registration screen, click "Complete a Master Business Application Online."
  3. On the Initial Instructions screen, if you're a new user or haven't logged on within the last 30 days, select "New User," then click "Continue" (otherwise select "Existing User").
  4. On the Create User Profile screen, enter a user name and password, then click "Continue."
  5. On the Purpose of Application screen, select the fifth option, "Add State and/or City License to Existing Location," then click "Continue."
  6. Continue through the application pages, and when you reach the State Licenses screen, select "Third Party Administrator Registration (TPA) Washington Vaccine Association," then click "Continue."
  7. Follow the instructions to finish up the application and submit it to the DOL.

TPAs based outside Washington State:
If your business is based outside Washington, you can register online directly with the WVA. EXCEPTION: Out-of-state TPAs are exempt from having to register if they:

• are a member of the BlueCross BlueShield Association, and
• meet their payment obligations to the WVA in a timely manner via Premera BlueCross or Regence BlueShield, in accordance with the BlueCard® system.