If you weren’t paying attention, you might not have noticed that flu season started Aug. 1.
The good news is that it’s not too late to start thinking about flu season, particularly vaccinating your patients.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) certainly has been thinking about flu vaccines, and recently published 2019-20 payment rates for personal flu vaccines and their administration. The effective dates for these rates are Aug. 1, 2019, to July 31, 2020.
Novitas Solutions will reprocess any previously processed and paid claims for the current flu season that were paid using rates other than those for 2019-20. This reprocessing should occur by Nov. 1, 2019.
In addition, if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves any new vaccines during this flu season, CMS will post the payment limits and effective dates for those vaccines on its website.
CMS reminds physicians:
- Take advantage of each office visit as an opportunity to encourage patients to protect themselves from the flu and serious complications by getting a flu shot;
- Continue to provide the flu shot if you have vaccine available, even into the new year; and
- Remember to immunize yourself and your staff.
If you want to become more involved in protecting your community from flu and other vaccine-preventable diseases, consider hosting a shot clinic through the Texas Medical Association’s Be Wise – ImmunizeSM program.
Last Updated On
August 23, 2023
Originally Published On
October 04, 2019