OPA COVID-19 Vaccines and Therapeutics: July 5, 2022 Update

^New Pfizer Resource for Identifying High-Risk Patients Prone to Severe COVID-19 Symptoms
Pfizer Inc. released a healthcare provider resource for Identifying Patients Who Are at High Risk for Progression to Severe COVID-19 Including Hospitalization. This resource covers FDA-approved categories that pre-dispose patients to severe COVID-19 symptoms, potentially leading to hospitalization. Providers can use this resource to discuss the importance of getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, this can help pharmacists direct high-risk patients to contact their prescriber and receive a prescription for a COVID-19 therapeutic.

Reminder: Ohio Medicaid COVID-19 Incentives Deadlines Updated 
The Ohio Department of Medicaid and Ohio’s Managed Care plans have announced specific updates to their COVID-19 vaccine incentives. Please note the following changes as you provide vaccines for patients:

• The pharmacy administration fee of $100 per COVID-19 vaccination for Medicaid members (including booster shots) will remain until December 31, 2022.
• OutcomesMTM and CSS Health tips on COVID-19 counseling and administration will end on June 30, 2022.
• Patient gift cards for all COVID-19 vaccines will also end on June 30, 2022. If your pharmacy received physical gift cards for patients, please fill out the gift card trackers and send them to RxCovidTracking@centene.com.
• Physical gift cards must be returned to the following address: Meera Patel-Zook, 4349 Easton Way Suite 120, Columbus, OH 43219.

Reminder: Funding Opportunity for COVID-19 Vaccine Administration to Uninsured Individuals 
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) announced a new funding opportunity for COVID-19 vaccine providers in Ohio. This is intended to reimburse the costs of administering COVID-19 vaccines to uninsured individuals.

Before April 5, 2022, the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) accepted claims for COVID-19 vaccine administration reimbursement to providers who vaccinated uninsured individuals. The HRSA program stopped accepting claims on April 5 due to insufficient funds. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 Vaccination Program requires providers to continue administering COVID-19 vaccines at no out-of-pocket cost to recipients. As a result, some providers may be negatively impacted without reimbursement for these costs.

ODH is responding to this important need for providers to receive reimbursement to continue providing COVID-19 vaccines. Ohio COVID-19 vaccine providers who previously received reimbursement for vaccine administration through the HRSA COVID-19 Uninsured Program may apply for funding. Applicants shall not seek reimbursement through any other source for vaccines administered with this funding. Click here to download the Application for Uninsured Vaccine Administration Reimbursement. Downloaded applications will need to be signed, then emailed to Procurement@odh.ohio.gov.

The total funding available through ODH will be $1.7 million, which will be available through June 30, 2023, or until the available funds are exhausted. Funding will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Vaccine providers will receive the money upfront based on the provider’s estimated number of vaccinations of uninsured individuals from the date of award through June 30, 2023. Providers will have the option of payment by electronic fund transfer or by check. Providers will be required as part of the agreement to submit quarterly reports with a total number of vaccinations of uninsured individuals to be reviewed and validated by ODH. Providers will be required to return any funding received in excess of the actual vaccines administered. Please submit any questions regarding this funding opportunity to ODH by email at Procurement@odh.ohio.gov.

Reminder: Pfizer Resource on Contraindicated Drugs with Paxlovid
Pfizer Inc. has released a useful resource for their oral COVID-19 therapeutic PAXLOVID™ (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir). This document covers Potentially Significant Drug Interactions including Contraindicated Drugs. It includes a list of drug classes that interact with Paxlovid. Providers can reference this quick guide as they prepare to dispense the medication. Please refer to the the following resources for further information:

• Pfizer Guidance on Paxlovid for Healthcare Providers
• Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers
• Fact Sheet for Patients, Parents, and Caregivers
• FDA Emergency Use Authorization Letter

    OPA is working diligently to facilitate communication between state decision-makers and member pharmacists. OPA has created multiple COVID-19 resources, including a COVID-19 Vaccine Information Webpage, COVID-19 Testing Hub, and COVID-19 Resources Webpage, on the OPA website www.ohiopharmacists.org under the Resources drop-down box. Please contact Myriam Shaw Ojeda, Director of Pharmacy Extension and Public Health Initiatives, for further questions at mshawojeda@ohiopharmacists.org.