Maintenance Access to COVID-19 Vaccines for LTCFs

On March 21, 2021, the Indiana Department of Health (IDH) issued Maintenance Access Guidance for long-term care facilities to continue to access the COVID-19 vaccine on an ongoing basis in one of three ways:

• Federal Option;
• Local Option; or
• Direct Enrollment Option.

LTC Pharmacies that are enrolled with the IDH (Local Option) should contact the following in order to request COVID-19 vaccine allocations:

• Dave McCormick at DMcCormick@isdh.IN.gov
• Jill King at JiKing@isdh.IN.gov
• Gina Bindley, Chief Nurse Consultant, gbindley@isdh.in.gov or call 317-233-9460

For technical issues with enrollment in the IDH system please contact Vijay Pathangi (vpathang@isdh.in.gov).

Importantly, in the rare case a resident or staff member needs a second shot but cannot wait until the long-term care facility implements its maintenance vaccine plan, the long-term care facility should seek assistance from its local health department.  If the local health department is unable to assist, the long-term care facility should contact Randy Snyder (rsnyder1@isdh.in.gov), Dr. Shireesha Vuppalanchi (svuppalanchi@isdh.in.gov), or Matt Foster (mfoster@isdh.in.gov) to make alternate arrangements for the second shot(s).  Residents and staff can always register for a COVID-19 vaccine at a community clinic via oushot.in.gov or by calling 211 as well.

Federal Option

Under the federal option, long-term care facilities can receive COVID-19 vaccines from a LTC pharmacy enrolled as a COVID-19 vaccine provider through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program (FRPP).  Those LTC pharmacy partners will receive limited vaccine allocations from the federal government.  Long-term care facilities utilizing this option must coordinate directly with participating LTC pharmacies to get access to vaccines and plan vaccination clinics.  A list of pharmacy partners participating in the FRPP is available here.

Local Option

Under the local option, long-term care facilities can receive COVID-19 vaccines from a LTC pharmacy enrolled as a COVID-19 vaccine provider with Indiana.  If a LTC pharmacy is not enrolled but wishes to provide COVID-19 vaccines to a long-term care facility, the pharmacy can enroll as a provider at IDH’s COVID Provider Enrollment site.  Under this option, the pharmacy retains responsibility for acquiring, storing, and administering the vaccine, and for reporting supply and vaccination administration to the state as required.  Pharmacies may contract with a facility’s staff to administer the vaccines but retains full responsibility for vaccination reporting (e.g., to CHIRP if required). LTC Pharmacies that are enrolled with the IDH (Local Option) should contact Ondreya Witmer (owitmer@isdh.in.gov) in order to request COVID-19 vaccine allocations.

Direct Enrollment Option

Under the direct enrollment option, long-term care facilities can receive COVID-19 vaccines by enrolling directly at IDH’s COVID Provider Enrollment site.  Under this option, the long-term care facility is solely responsible for vaccine ordering, storage, handling, and administration, and for reporting supply and administration information to the state.