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Time to give some transparency as to why private physicians are not getting Covid vaccines to deliver to patients. Media, watch carefully:
CPT 0001A, 0011A, 0021A: $16.94
CPT 0002A, 0012A, 0022A: $28.39
The first shot pays administers $16.94, and for 2nd $28.39 (1/10)
CPT 0001A, 0011A, 0021A: $16.94
CPT 0002A, 0012A, 0022A: $28.39
The first shot pays administers $16.94, and for 2nd $28.39 (1/10)
Now, the Federal government has negotiated pricing and purchased the vaccine from private companies at fixed fees. They then distribute to the States the vaccine at ZERO cost to the State. Their only requirement is that the vaccine is distributed in accordance w/ CDC reccs (2/10)
So each site, typically run by the County in Arizona, but now expanded into State sites with the assertion that the County isn't doing it fast enough, will commonly use volunteers to help distribute vaccine as well as employed personnel at the hospital run sites (3/10)
Now I've read that the State site is running 200 shots per hour, or roughly 5000 shots per day.
Imagine being able to sell a product that you pay nothing for, using personnel at either no cost or relatively low cost, delivering a high demand product to desperate people (4/10)
Imagine being able to sell a product that you pay nothing for, using personnel at either no cost or relatively low cost, delivering a high demand product to desperate people (4/10)
Add to all of that:
Executive Orders requiring insurance companies to pay for vaccine administration costs in full, w/ no cost share to the patient.
Federal & State programs (including Medicare) required to pay the fee in full
A Federal program paying for uninsured shots (5/10)
Executive Orders requiring insurance companies to pay for vaccine administration costs in full, w/ no cost share to the patient.
Federal & State programs (including Medicare) required to pay the fee in full
A Federal program paying for uninsured shots (5/10)
5000 shots x $16.94 = $84,700 per day. If they are successful at holding onto the vaccines to themselves for the second shot means:
5000 shots x $28.39 = $141,950 per day. Per site. And some sites have a higher volume, but running the site 24/7 is a good business move. (6/10)
5000 shots x $28.39 = $141,950 per day. Per site. And some sites have a higher volume, but running the site 24/7 is a good business move. (6/10)
And as best as I can tell, the next step in distribution is not to private physicians. The next move according to @dougducey @9thFloorAZ website is distribution to pharmacies, not physicians.
https://azgovernor.gov/governor/news/2021/01/strong-demand-covid-19-vaccine-paves-way-second-state-site-phoenix-municipal
(7/10)
https://azgovernor.gov/governor/news/2021/01/strong-demand-covid-19-vaccine-paves-way-second-state-site-phoenix-municipal
(7/10)
I sent an email blast to my patients telling them to go ahead to the state site and get scheduled for their vaccination if they're in Phase 1A or 1B. Because I just don't know when I'll get it. Because our State government doesn't care. Because it's about greed. It's about (8/10)
business lobbying. It's about an opportunity to continue to force inconvenience on patients and the public & the healthcare system in the interests of keeping tax money flowing & now healthcare dollars flowing to the government.
It makes me angry. (9/10) https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/13/health/unorganized-covid-vaccine-distribution-wellness-partner/index.html
It makes me angry. (9/10) https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/13/health/unorganized-covid-vaccine-distribution-wellness-partner/index.html
It makes me sad.
It makes me question if we in healthcare are simply afterthoughts of a system solely focused on the things that minimize the financial impact of people on a government system, rather than optimizing people's lives through smart and efficient healthcare. (10/10)
It makes me question if we in healthcare are simply afterthoughts of a system solely focused on the things that minimize the financial impact of people on a government system, rather than optimizing people's lives through smart and efficient healthcare. (10/10)
