Complete Story
OPA COVID-19 Vaccines June 21, 2021 Update and Added Vaccine Incentives
Vaccine Management System
The vaccine management system (VMS) created by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has undergone some updates. If your pharmacy uses this software to schedule vaccine appointments, please review the updated user guide to learn more about the changes.
Reminder: Managed Care Programs Announced Pharmacy Incentives for COVID-19 Vaccine
Ohio’s Medicaid Managed Care Programs announced additional pharmacy incentives through CSS Health and OutcomesMTM platforms. Pharmacists can now engage further with Ohio’s Medicaid population to have meaningful patient interactions answering their questions and administering the COVID-19 vaccines. These added incentives allow for targeted outreach to the Medicaid population so that pharmacists can bring their clinical expertise along with evidence-based information to combat vaccine hesitancy. Ohio Medicaid patients for the following plans are eligible for this incentive:
- Buckeye Health Plan- Medicaid
- CareSource (via CSS Health)
- Molina Medicaid
- Molina Medicaid- COVID-19 Immunization
- Paramount – Medicaid
- UHC Ohio Medicaid
These incentives further emphasize the importance of the community pharmacist in accessibility to patients, particularly in under-vaccinated counties across the state. For specific details about the incentive programs, please see the following press releases: Outcomes(TM) partners with Medicaid plans to help Ohio Medicaid members get vaccinated and CareSource Partners with CSS Health to Help Members Get Vaccinated.
Vaccine Incentives Survey
Independent pharmacies have an opportunity to receive incentives to share with Medicaid patients who receive the COVID-19 vaccine through the incentive program outlined above. All independent pharmacy vaccinators are requested to fill out this COVID-19 Medicaid Patient Incentive Survey by the close of business on Wednesday, 6/23.
Helpful State Vaccine Resources and Information
The following resources are helpful for vaccinators to contact ODH regarding vaccine shipments:
- COVID Vaccine Provider Call Center: 1-844-963-4829 (The ODH Provider Call Center is open daily from 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and is no longer open on weekends)
- COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Resources website
- ImpactSIIS Job Aids and Videos
- ImpactSIIS help desk: email impact@odh.ohio.gov for assistance or call 1-866-349-0002.
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. For further questions, please contact Myriam Shaw Ojeda, Fellow in Policy and Innovation, at mshawojeda@ohiopharmacists.org
