News

COVID-19: Vaccine Access in Long-term Care Settings

The federal government is committed to ensuring that residents and staff in long-term care settings, like nursing homes, assisted living, residential care communities, group homes, and senior housing, have access to COVID-19 vaccines to get primary series and booster shots.

We encourage long-term care providers to consider the option that works best for their residents and staff when coordinating access to COVID-19 vaccines, either in the local community or on-site. The CDC has additional details on these options.

As a reminder, through enforcement discretion, CMS will allow Medicare-enrolled immunizers, including but not limited to pharmacies working with the U.S., to bill directly and get direct reimbursement from the Medicare program for vaccinating Medicare skilled nursing facility residents. Find Medicare billing and payment information.

There’s Still Time: Recommend the Flu Shot

Whether you’re a primary care physician, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider, you play a significant role in helping protect your patients against the flu. Your strong flu shot recommendation is one of the most important factors in patients getting the vaccine.

Medicare Part B covers 1 flu shot per flu season and additional flu shots if medically necessary. Your patients pay nothing if you accept assignment.

Remember to:

Use each office visit to talk with your patients about why it’s important to get the flu shot
Share handouts with patients who want additional information, have questions, or decline the flu shot
Refer patients to a vaccine provider if your practice doesn’t give the flu shot

Learn how you and your staff can make a strong recommendation with the CDC’s Prepare Your Practice to Fight Flu slide presentation.

More Information:

CMS Flu Shot webpage
CDC Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Resources for Health Professionals webpage
Data Snapshot: Annual Influenza Vaccination Disparities in Medicare Beneficiaries (November 2021) (PDF)
Flu Shots: information for your patients

Chiropractic Treatment of the Spine: Comparative Billing Report in January

In late January, CMS will issue a Comparative Billing Report (CBR) on Medicare Part B claims for chiropractic spine treatment. Use the data-driven report to compare your billing practices with those of your peers in your state and across the nation.

CBRs aren’t publicly available, so look for an email from cbrpepper.noreply@religroupinc.com to access yours. Make sure your email address is up-to-date in the Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System so you get your report.

More Information: