COVID-19 Uninsured Program

On April 18, 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) announced its plan to maintain access to COVID-19 vaccines and treatment following the end of the Public Health Emergency on May 11, 2023. The “HHS Bridge Access Program for COVID-19 Vaccines and Treatments” is a $1.1 billion public-private partnership between HHS, pharmacy chains, and drug manufacturers. Essentially, HHS and drug manufacturers will provide COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, like Paxlovid and Lagevrio, to pharmacy chains, which will administer them to individuals without insurance at no cost.

Under the program, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), will use its existing authority under Section 317 of the Public Health Service Act to purchase and distribute COVID-19 vaccines and allocate them through its network of 64 state and local health departments, as well as through Health Resources and Services Administration (“HRSA”) supported health centers.Continue Reading HHS Proposes Bridge Access Program for COVID-19 Vaccines and Treatments

On May 18, 2021, in a statement issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Inspector General, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California, Phillip Talbert, and California Attorney General, Rob Bonta (the Statement), the health care industry was reminded of the prohibition against charging individuals for COVID-19