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Vaccine Prioritization in State Plan - BH Status?

  • 1.  Vaccine Prioritization in State Plan - BH Status?

    Posted 01-04-2021 14:32

    I am writing to see if we can update each other on the status of behavioral health inclusion in states' vaccine distribution plans. As of December 8, via chat on the AE call, I have the following nine states with either partial or full inclusion of behavioral health within their states' vaccine prioritization plans. Any updates from folks not on the list or corrections from those who are? FWIW, Maryland doesn't have a final plan yet and ranks dead last among states in its vaccine distribution rate to date, according to Bloomberg.

     

    All behavioral health included in Phase 1/Tier1:

    • AL
    • CA
    • MT
    • WV?
    • VT

     

    Only congregate BH settings included in Phase 1/Tier 1:

    • FL
    • IA
    • NY
    • MO? Trying to expand to all as of early Dec


  • 2.  RE: Vaccine Prioritization in State Plan - BH Status?

    Posted 01-04-2021 15:24

    Good afternoon!

     

    Ohio has included all BH providers in Phase 1A along with all critical healthcare workers.  Within this group, congregate care settings, including BH residential treatment, recovery housing, and MH group homes, have the highest priority on par with nursing facilities.

     

    Even with that, access to the vaccine has been slow and must be coordinated at the county level through local public health departments.  Some providers have been successful in getting at least some of their staff and residential clients access. 

     

    Teresa

     

    Teresa Lampl, LISW-S, CEO 

    The Ohio Council of Behavioral Health & Family Services Providers

    35 E. Gay Street, Suite 401, Columbus, OH  43215 

    lampl@theohiocouncil.org   |  740-358-6567 (cell phone)  |  www.theohiocouncil.org     

     

    Advocating Today for a Healthy Tomorrow

     

     




    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Vaccine Prioritization in State Plan - BH Status?

    Posted 01-04-2021 15:24

    All BH is included in Phase 1 of TN's plan.  The plan is here https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/COVID-19_Vaccination_Plan.pdf and the county level of distribution is available at: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/CountyPhaseStatus.pdf

     

     

    Mary-Linden Salter, LCSW

    Executive Director

    Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug & other Addiction Services
    Airport Executive Plaza
    1321 Murfreesboro Pike Suite 155
    Nashville, TN 37217
    Office: 615-780-5901, ex     118 

    Note new phone extension

    Cell: 615-579-8808

    https://smile.amazon.com/

     

     




    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Vaccine Prioritization in State Plan - BH Status?

    Posted 01-04-2021 15:24
    Massachusetts is including BH in phase 1, although it's not clear how this will be operationalized in either the congregate or non-congregate care settings.

    Phase 1

    (December 2020 – February 2021)

    Listed in order of priority:

    • Clinical and non-clinical health care workers doing direct and COVID-facing care
      • Including: COVID-19 testers, staff of test sites, urgent care centers, other clinics, school nurses, and public health nurses performing COVID-19 testing; COVID-19 vaccinators and support staff for a COVID vaccination clinic including pharmacists, pharmacy interns, and pharmacy technicians, school nurses, and public health nurses supporting COVID-19 vaccination; Medical Reserve Corps who are called up to vaccinate or other COVID facing direct care work; COVID facing Hospice/palliative care professionals; COVID facing laboratorians; COVID facing imaging professions; emergent employees (manufacturing COVID vaccine)
    • Long term care facilities, rest homes and assisted living facilities
    • Emergency medical services, police, and fire
      • Including: all interfacility transport workers, MedFlight staff, college/university campus police, 911 Dispatch employees
    • Congregate care settings
      • Including: corrections and shelters
    • Home-based health care workers
      • Including: PT/OT/SLP therapists who work with medically complex home students
    • Health care workers doing non-COVID-facing care
      • Including: Dentists/dental students (unless routinely working with COVID-19 positive or suspected patients such as Oral Surgeons covering the ER, in which case should be considered COVID-facing); Medical students (unless routinely working with COVID-19 positive or suspected patients, in which case should be considered COVID-facing); Inpatient and outpatient physical therapists (unless routinely working with COVID-19 positive or suspect patients, in which case should be considered COVID-facing); Interpreters who work in hospitals (unless routinely working with COVID-19 positive or suspected patients, in which case should be considered COVID-facing); Behavioral health clinicians not already covered in congregate care or direct care; Non- COVID facing Laboratorians; Blood donation workers; Organ donation procurement worker; Hospice/palliative care professionals; Non-COVID facing Imaging Professionals; Dialysis center workers and patients; Audiologists and speech and language pathologists (unless routinely working with COVID-19 positive or suspected patients, in which case should be considered COVID-facing); Podiatrists (unless routinely working with COVID-19 positive or suspected patients, in which case should be considered COVID-facing)
    • Individuals who do not come into contact with patients (e.g., back office, remote work, administrative staff who do not come into contact with patients, laboratory researchers who do not come into contact with patients) are not prioritized in Phase 1 and should be prioritized in Phase 2 or Phase 3 depending on each individual's age, comorbidity status, or other worker category.


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    Lydia Conley
    President/CEO
    Association for Behavioral Healthcare
    Natick MA
    508-647-8385
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Vaccine Prioritization in State Plan - BH Status?

    Posted 01-04-2021 16:03

    NH is very similar, we have BH providers with direct contact getting access now, there is form that needs to be completed.  Some of the challenge has been access points to get the vaccine which may not always be in close proximity to the provider. 

     




    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Vaccine Prioritization in State Plan - BH Status?

    Posted 01-04-2021 15:24
    Hi Shannon,
    As of this morning, BH Outpatient/Ambulatory staff who are at high risk due to their working face to face with care recipients are now included in the priority groups within the 'Phase 1a'  priority populations who can receive get vaccinated here in NY.  We currently await more specific information from the relevant state agencies as to which BH Programs and Services fall under the Outpatient/Ambulatory umbrella, and the state continues to rely on employers to risk stratify within the priority populations in terms of who should get appointments first. 

    Penetration of the vaccine in BH settings is mixed with some providers stating that only 40-50% of their prioritized staff are interested in getting the vaccine at this time.  Some agencies report there is a shortage of appointments to meet demand, while others say they are having real trouble securing a commitment from staff to be vaccinated.  FYI, NYC is running its' own rollout and seems to be a bit behind in terms of the focus on various priority populations but today they put out a scheduling tool that should help with this.

    --
    Lauri Cole, Executive Director
    New York State Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
    911 Central Avenue, PO Bx 152
    Albany, NY   12206
    (518) 461-8200



    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Vaccine Prioritization in State Plan - BH Status?

    Posted 01-04-2021 16:03

    In New Jersey, all behavioral health staff with direct contact in the community  are all considered in the 1a group as well.  Vaccines went to hospitals first where they could store the Pfizer vaccine and next to nursing homes via the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-term Care and Residential Healthcare Facilities. Initially substance use facilities and other congregate mental health facilities were part of 1a but due to the over demand on the program, the CDC notified some f our providers that they were limiting that program to nursing homes.  An initial distribution list with designated sites (including pharmacies) and grocery stores was issued and healthcare professionals can sign up and get a date for their vaccination and these include our population.  Of course, availability is contingent on how much vaccine is available and how many people agree to take it.  While we are a bit behind too in New Jersey, the lists are being updated and staff of all services that have high wish with direct face-to-face contact are eligible as a priority populations.

     

     

     




    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Vaccine Prioritization in State Plan - BH Status?

    Posted 01-04-2021 15:24
    DC - All BH professionals unable to telework (congregate, community-based, or clinic) and who have regular direct or indirect exposure are in Phase 1 / Tier 1A.

    Those who are teleworking follow general public or other specific eligibility (for example, multiple chronic disease status).

    Mark LeVota
    Executive Director
    District of Columbia Behavioral Health Association
    *** o: 202-929-3757 *** PLEASE NOTE NEW NUMBER



    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Vaccine Prioritization in State Plan - BH Status?

    Posted 01-04-2021 16:03
      |   view attached

    Some BH employees are being accepted in the Priority 1A group. The Dept of Public Health told me last week "If the providers are seeing patients, then they are eligible for the COVID vaccine" and sent the attachment.

     

    Providers had to submit rosters for priority, it seems to have been left up to them to categorize the employees. I asked a few of our members, also last week, and of the five BH providers only one hadn't heard about their list. The others have had the names they submitted as 1A accepted as such (and for other priority categories, too) and two of those said the vaccinations were already underway.

     

    So, it's fair to say that some are in the highest priority level.

     

     

    gcasa-email-02

     

     

     




    Attachment(s)

    pdf
    Phase 1a Eligibility.pdf   125 KB 1 version
    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: Vaccine Prioritization in State Plan - BH Status?

    Posted 01-04-2021 18:31

    Last I have heard, in Delaware, BH community providers were considered 1D, however the information we are getting out of DHSS isn't necessarily consistent so I can't say for sure.  Our I/DD members (staff in residential/group homes) are considered 1A but there is no concrete plan on when and how the vaccines will happen. 

     

    Many if not most of our BH members have their own medical staff to distribute the vaccines so that might make things easier for them whereas the state of Delaware stopped reimbursing I/DD providers for nursing staff several years back.

     




    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: Vaccine Prioritization in State Plan - BH Status?

    Posted 01-06-2021 14:00
    IOWA - update behavioral health is included in Phase 1A as part of "healthcare personnel" including those who work in inpatient, outpatient, or community settings. Several IBHA member agency (SUD & MH) staff are already receiving the vaccine. Iowa Infectious Disease Advisory Committee Recommendations 12.18.2020 https://idph.iowa.gov/Portals/1/userfiles/282/IDAC%20Recommendations%201-A%20AMENDED%2012_18_2020.pdf The vaccine distribution is primarily through the local public health entities.

    ------------------------------
    Flora A. Schmidt, Executive Director
    Iowa Behavioral Health Association
    2900 100th St, Ste 200 Urbandale IA 50322
    515/309-3315 office
    515/210.6212 mobile
    Flora@ibha.org
    www.ibha.org

    Better Behavioral Health Through Education, Prevention, Treatment & Advocacy
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    Original Message