National Advocacy Groups Call For Quick Response From CMS

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In August, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) made a decision to recommend a pneumococcal vaccine, PCV13, to seniors and other at-risk populations. ACIP's off-cycle meeting and prompt decision was to ensure that the updated recommendation was in place in time for this year's flu season. Following the decision, the recommendation was sent to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for implementing Medicare coverage of the vaccine. To date, CMS has not acted.

Now that we are in the thick of flu season, it is increasingly important that CMS move quickly on this issue.  Pneumococcal illness is a common complication of influenza. According to National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, in its worst forms, it kills one in every 4 to 5 persons over 65 who contract it. Despite the new recommendations, the delay at CMS means that many Medicare beneficiaries will not have access to a follow-up dose PCV13 this flu season because they have previously been vaccinated and CMS's current policy is to only cover one pneumococcal vaccine in a lifetime. If this is not amended on an expedited basis, these individuals will have to wait until after the peak of this flu season. 

Patient groups are weighing in on their concerns about the delay:

• We respectfully urge CMS to approve this second and improved pneumococcal vaccine for Medicare coverage.  It is critical to more than 30 million older Medicare beneficiaries who are increasingly at risk without this vaccine. As we get deeper into the flu season the need for full protection grows stronger. CMS has a strong record on prevention and moving quickly on this will enhance that record. 
  
  Robert Blancato, Executive Director
  National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP)

• Family caregivers want to make sure that their elderly and disabled loved ones get all of the protections available for both flu and pneumonia. We urge CMS to make this possible. It's simple math. One plus one equals the protection our elderly loved ones need against these potentially deadly viruses.
  
  John Schall, Chief Executive Officer
  Caregiver Action Network

• The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) has a concern that even though the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) made a decision to recommend a second pneumococcal vaccine for seniors and other at-risk populations, CMS has not made a coverage determination. In the meantime, seniors and at-risk individuals do not have coverage for the vaccine. ACIP's decision was to ensure that the updated recommendation for use of a second protective vaccine was in place in time for this year's flu season. This time sequence is important for millions of autoimmune patients who are on immune-compromising medication and are susceptible to pneumococcal infections. 
  
  Virginia Ladd, President
  American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association

• It is a travesty and a breach of public trust that the CMS has not released PCV13 for use at the start of the flu season. This important vaccine protects older Americans against more strains of Pneumonia and would be an important part of keeping seniors healthy this fall and winter. This approved vaccine is being held up by bureaucrats who are focusing more on the news hogging Ebola scare than the much broader threat to life of the approaching flu and pneumonia season. Thousands of seniors could die if this vaccine is not available yet the CMS sits mute. RetireSafe and its 400,000 nationwide supporters appeal to the CMS to quickly approve the use of this life-saving vaccine.
  
  Thair Phillips, President/CEO
  RetireSafe

About NANASP

Founded in 1977, NANASP is proud to be a leading organization advocating for community-based senior nutrition programs and staff.  Their member programs represent a wide range of essential services providers who support the nutrition, health and life quality of seniors. With over 1,100 members from across the United States, they are national advocates for senior health and wellbeing who strengthen the policies and programs that nourish seniors.  They accomplish this mission through a collective national voice and through local community action.

SOURCE National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP)