Long-term care providers have only five days to opt into the federal government’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution program.
Federal health agencies in mid-October announced the program following an agreement with pharmacy retailers CVS and Walgreens to administer the vaccines free of charge to long-term facilities once ready. Signs ups for the optional program started last week.
Providers “need to identify by Oct. 30 as to how they want to receive and administer the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available,” the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living alerted in a blog post late last week.
“Providers have four options to select from: work with CVS; work with Walgreens; work with their existing pharmacy partner; or work with an alternative partner (e.g. hospital, local/state health department),” the association explained.
For providers who choose either of the last two options, AHCA/NCAL “strongly recommended” that providers request to see a signed copy of their partner’s provider agreement with their state and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Providers could “run the risk of not being included in early rounds of vaccine delivery and distribution” if they don’t verify the information.
“This could result in delays in your facility obtaining the vaccine,” the association warned.
