IL

Document ID: CMS-2011-0063-0003
Document Type: Public Submission
Agency: Centers For Medicare & Medicaid Services
Received Date: May 04 2011, at 12:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Date Posted: May 10 2011, at 12:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
Comment Start Date: May 4 2011, at 12:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
Comment Due Date: July 5 2011, at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time
Tracking Number: 80c3ec5c
View Document:

This is comment on Proposed Rule

Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Influenza Vaccination Standard for Certain Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers and Suppliers

View Comment

We are a 136 bed accredited stand alone psychiatric facility with multiple Inpatient and Outpatient programs. Currently, we offer our Inpatient population the Influenza Vaccines if they meet specific criteria (that we have decided on based on our patient population and risk level). We do not have a license to dispense medications to our Outpatient population. We have an assessment, that if a patient meets criteria for vaccination, they are to follow up with their primary care provider. Will this change? According to the proposed rule, we would have to increase the population to vaccinate to ALL patients (Inpatients and Outpatients) over the age of 6 months (as long as vaccination is not contraindicated or they refuse). Will we be required to vaccinate at the off site (satellite) locations as well? It seems as though the cost and licensure associated with this rule would be great. Patients who are seen at our facility do not typically see their primary care providers during their stay. Wouldn't it benefit people more if they discussed and recieved vaccines from their own physicians who know their medical history?