Posted on December 17th, 2009 by Frank Fortin
Although it remains focused on vaccinating priority groups, the state Department of Public Health (DPH) today expanded H1N1 vaccine recommendations to all residents. To date, DPH has distributed over two million doses of the H1N1 vaccine, and expects to receive additional large shipments from the federal government in the next month. DPH’s initial target for [...]
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Posted on November 3rd, 2009 by Frank Fortin
H1N1 in Massachusetts There has been a continuous increase in influenza-like illness (ILI) in Massachusetts over the last few weeks. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) continues to receive reports of ILI clusters in schools and the State Laboratory is receiving an increased number of specimens for H1N1 testing. Follow-up of individual cases by [...]
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Posted on October 23rd, 2009 by Frank Fortin
H1N1 Vaccine Allocation in Massachusetts To date, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) has received approximately 270,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine in all formulations, or between 5% and 10% of the total H1N1 doses it expects to receive this season. MDPH has prioritized allocation of H1N1 vaccine to ob-gyn, pediatric, family and multi-specialty practices in [...]
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Posted on October 13th, 2009 by Frank Fortin
Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting The Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the CDC remind you to report clinically significant adverse events after vaccination, whether or not you administered the vaccine and even if you are not sure if the vaccine caused the adverse event. Clinically significant adverse events are those events that are of concern [...]
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Posted on October 9th, 2009 by Frank Fortin
H1N1 Vaccine in Massachusetts H1N1 vaccine has begun arriving in Massachusetts. The state Department of Public Health (MDPH) reports it has received 3.1% of what Massachusetts will receive over the next 3 to 4 months. The state is allocating the doses it is currently receiving, and those it will receive in the next 3 weeks [...]
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Posted on October 2nd, 2009 by Frank Fortin
The victim was a 55-year-old woman from Middlesex County with "multiple underlying health conditions." Department of Public Health Commissioner John Auerbach's statement said, in part, “While most cases of H1N1 in Massachusetts and across the nation have been relatively mild, this news demonstrates once again how serious flu can be.” Read the complete DPH announcement. [...]
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Posted on September 29th, 2009 by Frank Fortin
The state Department of Public Health will host a webcast of its Statewide H1N1 Conference. The webcast will be archived on the webcast web site for one year. The program will include an H1N1 situation update and outlook for the months ahead, and discussion of activities related to H1N1, clinical management, surge capacity, vaccination, DPH [...]
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Posted on September 28th, 2009 by Frank Fortin
The AMA today announced two new CPT codes for the upcoming H1N1 immunizations. Coding from the AMA: Use code 90470 to report H1N1 immunization administration and counseling. Code 90663 was revised by the CPT Editorial Panel to refer specifically to the H1N1 vaccine product. Both, revised code 90663 and Category I CPT Code 90470 are [...]
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Posted on September 17th, 2009 by Frank Fortin
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved four vaccines against the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. The vaccines will be distributed nationally after the initial lots become available, which is expected within the next four weeks. The state will be responsible for distributing vaccine to health care and public health providers. Massachusetts health care practices [...]
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Posted on September 11th, 2009 by Frank Fortin
The MMS has canvassed the payers operating in Massachusetts to determine their reimbursement policies for administration of the H1N1 vaccine. Aetna, Cigna, Fallon, Health New England, Harvard Pilgrim, Medicare, and Network Health have provided their reimbursement policies. We're waiting to hear from Blue Cross, MassHealth, Tufts and Neighborhood Health Plan. The emerging trend is that [...]
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