Long-term care residents and staff members will receive coronavirus vaccinations at no cost, thanks to a program announced by the federal government in mid-October.
The Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program is being facilitated through an agreement between the Departments of Health and Human Services and Defense, and pharmacy retailers CVS and Walgreens, which will administer the vaccines.
HHS officials noted that the government has already funded the costs of producing and distributing the vaccines. This new arrangement allows CVS and Walgreens to bill insurers, Medicare or Medicaid for the cost of administering the vaccine.
Federal regulators also said that long-term care providers can opt to use their previously contracted pharmacists, taking advantage of existing relationships and familiar personnel who are well-versed in treating the elderly.
“Seniors will be the first in line for the vaccine and we will soon be ending this pandemic,” said President Donald Trump, during a campaign stop in Florida.
From the November 2020 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
