LeadingAge National had the regular weekly meeting with CDC on the Pharmacy Partnership.  Here is an updated FAQ with new questions and answers based on that meeting.  Among the highlights:

• CDC does not require consent forms.  They say the standard of care is to have a conversation with the individual being immunized and document it. Any consent forms those being immunized are asked to sign are required by either the pharmacy or the provider, not by CDC.
• There is a CDC long-term care vaccine toolkit coming out next week.  A health care toolkit on best immunization practices was posted today.  CDC staff recommend taking a look as it may answer some questions that come up before the LTC toolkit is out next week.
• Providers cannot be charged by the pharmacy for anything at all.  Residents and staff cannot be balance billed.  The pharmacy partner is responsible for billing Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance or HRSA’s uninsured program.
• Information on side effects will likely come out of the FDA and ACIP meetings today through Sunday.

The ACIP did not recommend including “independent living” in their 1A recommendation.  People who live in independent living on a CCRC campus are NOT covered by the Pharmacy Partnership program. 

Questions?

Contact:

Laura Hofmann, MSN, RN – Director of Clinical and Nursing Facility Regulatory Services
c: 425-231-4804