Biden Admin Announces Program to Maintain Free COVID-19 Vaccine, Treatments for Uninsured

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has launched a new program to assist the uninsured in accessing COVID-19 care, such as vaccines and anti-viral medications.

According to the agency’s April 18 press release, the HHS Bridge Access Program For COVID-19 Vaccines and Treatments was set up to promote access to COVID-19-specific care as the responsibility for vaccine and other medication distribution transitions from governmental to the private sector.

Under the program, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will purchase and distribute COVID-19 vaccines, which will be allocated through the CDC’s network of state and local health department immunization awardees nationwide.

These awardees will then distribute vaccines to local health departments (LHDs) and participating Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)-supported health centers.

The HHS will also create a novel, funded partnership with pharmacy chains to enable them to offer free COVID-19 vaccinations and treatments to the uninsured through their network or retail locations.

The program has been designed to ensure Americans have continued, easy access to COVID-19 vaccinations and treatments.

Participating pharmacies will be expected to ensure appropriate oversight, including patient attestations regarding lack of insurance coverage, and by providing the CDC with periodic facility-level data.

Pharmacies will also be eligible for one-time base payments for each site targeting areas with low rates of access and low rates of vaccination.

Under the agreements, uninsured individuals will have access to specific COVID-19 treatments, including Paxlovid and Lagevrio, from participating pharmacies with no out-of-pocket costs.

The goal is to include not only large pharmacy chains but also smaller, local chains and independently owned pharmacies.

The program aims to ensure a smooth transition for the provision of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments from the purchase and distribution by the U.S. government to traditional healthcare pathways.

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