Pharmacy Immunizations – It’s Far More than Flu Shots
Jeff Hedges, co-host of the Pharmacy Compliance Guide brings us new insights into the Business of Pharmacy & keeping your Community Pharmacy Compliant. This week we focus on Pharmacy Immunizations.
Can every pharmacists give immunizations?
- Absolutely, flu is the most recognized but most states will permit pharmacist to provide most immunizations to patients
Are there any restrictions?
- Yes, each state sets its own requirements for what a pharmacist can administer
- For example:
- there are age limits for certain vaccine
- some vaccine are prohibited by pharmacists to dispense
- Location of vaccines to be administer
Is there any license requirements?
- Yes, each states sets its requirements
- Most states require a separate immunization license
- Some states have the immunizations within the state issued pharmacist license and scope of practice
Who can administer vaccines in the pharmacy?
- Licensed pharmacists
- Registered nurses
- Licensed interns under the supervision of a pharmacist when permitted by state law
Are there any training requirements?
- The normal requirements are
- Complete an American Pharmacist Association approved Immunization course
- Complete and maintain an American Red Cross or American Heart Association CPR course and certification
- Maintain state licensure if required
What is needed for Medicare immunizations?
- I prefer a CMS 855B application for the pharmacy
- This give the pharmacy the PTAN rather than the pharmacist
- Submitted through the regional CMS administrator
- Application fee
- Separate PTAN is issued
How do you bill for immunizations?
- It depends on the patients insurance
- Medicare
- Using a billing company, such as Change Health or OmniSys
- Medicare & Medicaid and Third Party Payor
- A more robust billing company like TransactRx, Allegiant Billing, Electronic Billing Service
- Medicare Part C Advantage Plans
- Bin numbers through the pharmacy software
- Private payors
- Bin numbers through the pharmacy software
What other types of immunizations can a pharmacist do?
- Think outside your box!
- Contact local businesses
- Contact local schools and universities
- Contact local churches and places of worship who are going on mission trips
- Think different types of immunizations
- Travel Vaccines
- International travel requires vaccines
- Who provides travel vaccines
- Physicians – No
- County Department of Health – No
- Most pharmacies – No
- You – Absolutely
- Advantages
- You can go to churches and other places of worship
- You can go to businesses who travel internationally
- Colleges and Universities travel extensively throughout the globe
- All of these vaccines are CASH!
- Who sets the price – YOU!
- Disadvantages
- You are letting someone else do these immunizations
What type of order is needed to administer a vaccine?
- Written prescriptions
- Legal order to administer the vaccine
- Standing Orders
- Developed by the CDC and IAC
- Signed by a physician
- Should be renewed annually
- Except in CA and ID where the Pharmacist is now permitted to sign standing orders
- Emergency Protocols
- Emergency treatment procedures when a patient has an adverse reaction
- Signed by a physician
- Except in CA and ID where the Pharmacist is now permitted to sign standing orders
- However, I personally recommend that a physician still sign this order to protect the pharmacist
Am I required to have Policies and Procedures?
- By federal statute, No
- Strongly recommended by APhA
- Required to be submitted to the liability carrier when an adverse reaction occurs
- Check your insurance policy for your compliance requirements
Where do I turn for help and guidance?
- Well that is where my company comes in
- We work with the IAC and CDC in developing policies and procedures, standing orders and many other documents
- All are contained within our Pharmacy Immunization Compliance Program which is maintain as changes occur from the CDC and IAC
CONTACT RJ HEDGES TODAY:
R.J. Hedges & Associates
163 9th Street PO Box H
New Florence, PA 15944
Phone: (724) 357-8380
Email: sales@rjhedges.com