The information below is current as of Feb. 23, 2021.
Distribution and Prioritization
The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) hosts weekly meetings of the Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel (EVAP). Find details below, and check this DSHS webpage for updates.
- More Vaccines to Be Shipped to Texas: Vaccine shipments will resume in Texas this week following a disruption caused by last week’s winter storm, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) said. Many doses intended for delivery the week of Feb. 15 are expected to be delivered at the beginning of this week. In addition, 591,920 first doses will be delivered to 563 facilities later this week, including “84,240 doses for large vaccine clinics in Harris, Dallas and Tarrant counties supported by the federal government,” according to DSHS. Read more information.
- Reschedule Delayed Second-Dose Appointments: Enough vaccines will be available for patients whose second-dose appointments were delayed by last week’s winter weather, and facilities should reschedule those appointments, DSHS said. Patients who receive a second dose outside the recommended six-week window will not require an additional booster shot, DSHS said. To meet the demand, the state is ordering 364,830 doses intended as the second dose. Read more information.
- Forum to Promote Vaccine Safety, Access: Physicians are invited to attend a national forum on the COVID-19 vaccine hosted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The virtual forum, scheduled for Feb. 22-24, “aims to promote the most effective strategies to build trust and confidence in COVID-19 vaccines, use data to optimize vaccine implementation, and provide practical information for increasing vaccine access,” CDC said. Registration is required.
Enrollment, Administration, and Reporting
- Collect Medicare Info to Bill for Medicare Advantage COVID-19 Vaccine Administration: Physicians contracted with Medicare Advantage plans should submit claims for administering COVID-19 vaccines to Medicare, not to the plan carriers. To submit the administration claim to Medicare through Novitas Solutions, the Medicare payer for Texas, your practice will need to have on file your Medicare Advantage patient’s original Medicare card or Medicare ID number. Be sure to have your staff collect this when Medicare Advantage patients make appointments to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Any other services you provide to the patient on that date should be filed to the Medicare Advantage plan. When COVID-19 vaccine doses are provided by the government without charge, only bill for the vaccine administration. Don’t include vaccine codes on the claim when vaccines are free. Read more information.
Helpful Links
Last Updated On
February 23, 2021
Originally Published On
February 23, 2021