By Linda Rouse O’Neill
Getting a Head Start on the 2015-2016 Flu Season
Summer has flown by once again and it’s hard to believe that winter will be here in two short months. As a result, now is a great time to start preparing for the upcoming influenza season with your customers, ensuring flu vaccine orders are placed and adequate inventories are ready for deployment.
In August, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its recommendations for the 2015-2016 flu season, suggesting seniors receive flu vaccinations before December when the season typically begins to peak. This year, the CDC’s National Influenza Vaccination Week – established to highlight the importance of continuing flu vaccination – takes place December 6-12.
What can you and your customers expect this flu season based on historical trends and future projections? HIDA’s 2015 Influenza Vaccine Production & Distribution market brief provides some key takeaways that will help inform your upcoming flu discussions.
Active flu season spurs increased vaccine production
Flu vaccine manufacturers project they will produce roughly 174.5 million doses for the upcoming influenza season. At most, this represents an 11.1 percent increase from last year’s season, partly attributed to increased manufacturer production capacity as well as a flu season that is projected to be potentially more active than recent years.
Your customers have four major vaccine options from which to choose this season:
- Intramuscular (IM) vaccines – Available in both trivalent and quadrivalent formulations.
- Jet injector vaccines – Available for people 18 through 64 years old and used to deliver one particular trivalent flu vaccine.
- Nasal spray vaccines – Available in quadrivalent formulations only this season.
- Intradermal vaccines – Available in quadrivalent formulations only this season.
The CDC does not have a preferential recommendation for any type or brand of licensed influenza vaccine over another, as long as the product falls within CDC-approved indications and recommendations. Make sure to review each option with your customers to determine which delivery options work best for them.
Physician offices remain primary vaccination site
Doctor’s offices remain the most common site for patient flu vaccinations among both adults (33.2%) and children (63.3%), according to the CDC’s annual survey of places of vaccination for both groups. The survey also notes that pharmacies, drug stores, and other retail sites continue to gain popularity as alternate sites to receive vaccinations.
The CDC recommends providers begin offering vaccination soon after vaccines become available and, if possible, as early as this month. Over the past five years, demand for vaccine has typically peaked in October while vaccine supplies usually peak in November and December. Overall, the CDC data continues to emphasize the importance of having early flu vaccine discussions with your customers, particularly physician offices.
Quality reporting linked to reimbursement
Healthcare personnel (HCP) influenza immunizations are included as a measure for several providers’ quality reporting programs per CMS’s annual Medicare reimbursement regulation. In short, if your customers are not vaccinated or fail to report this information, their Medicare reimbursement could be reduced.
Upcoming quality reporting programs and requirements of note include:
- CY 2016 Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting Program – Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among HCP.
- CY 2016 ASC Quality Reporting Program – Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among HCP.
- CY 2017 Home Health Agency Quality Reporting Program – Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among HCP.
Most Medicare payment allowances have increased marginally or stayed static over the past five flu seasons, so there are real financial implications at stake for your customers if they don’t follow these requirements.
HIDA continue to monitor flu trends both at www.HIDA.org and www.FluSupplyNews.com. For more information, please contact us at HIDAGovAffairs@hida.org.