Long-Term Care Facility Leaders Urged to Prioritize Resident COVID-19 Vaccinations by the US Department of Health and Human Services

Concern for low vaccination rates among nursing home residents was prioritized in a virtual meeting of long-term care facility (LTCF) leaders and US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra on January 3, 2024.  

Becerra reminded leaders of their responsibility to fulfill the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requirement to offer COVID-19 vaccines and relevant vaccine education to residents and staff.  

In a previous HHS virtual meeting on December 21, LTCF leaders discussed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) finding that only 33% of residents in long-term care facilities were up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations according to a December 2023 report.  

“During the call, Secretary Becerra expressed his appreciation to long-term care providers for understanding the urgency of this issue and requested that member facilities share their best practices with HHS and any information that they could as to why residents or their guardians may be declining COVID-19 vaccinations this season,” the news release shared.  

While for the first time COVID-19, flu, and RSV vaccines are available to protect older adults in the US, Becerra highlighted that unvaccinated older Americans still face greater risk of serious illness.  

The HHS has supported vaccination efforts in long-term health care facilities in collaboration with the CDC and other federal, state, and local partners through meetings on the subject with the American Health Care Association and LeadingAge. Becerra attended the White House’s Long Term Care Facility Summit with the Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy and CDC to address vaccine access and uptake in October 2023.  

The CDC conducts also bi-weekly calls with long-term care partners and the HHS connects manufacturers with LTCFs and pharmacies to prioritize equitable vaccine distribution for the Bridge Access Program. Another resource for long term care providers is a weekly newsletter with respiratory virus resources and information distributed by the CDC.  

Feedback from LTCF partners around billing and reimbursement challenges was addressed by the CMS and CDC in a letter outlining concerns and guidance on ways to improve practices for plans and pharmacy benefit managers.  

Secretary Becerra reiterated that HHS would continue to work with leaders on the ongoing concern of low vaccination rates among nursing home residents.  

Reference 

HHS Press Office. Readout of HHS Secretary Becerra’s Meeting with Long-Term Care Facility Leaders. US Department of Health and Human Services. News Release. Published January 3, 2024. Accessed January 23, 2024. www.hhs.gov/about/news/2024/01/03/readout-hhs-secretary-becerras-meeting-long-term-care-facility-leaders.html