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Dr. Paul Cieslak, OHA senior health advisor and medical director, Communicable Diseases and Immunizations program, and Sean McAnulty, OHP Member Communications coordinator, answered today’s questions.
Q: What’s the latest information regarding flu, COVID and RSV shots for this fall? I’m a 72-year-old man wondering when they will be available, and if all three can be received at the same time. – Anonymous, Tualatin
A: “This year’s flu vaccine will become available in late August or early September. A new monovalent COVID-19 vaccine could become available by mid- to late-September, as it still must be reviewed, authorized and recommended by the FDA and CDC. As for the new RSV vaccine recently approved by the FDA, the CDC recommended that people age 60+ should discuss with their health care provider whether they should get one of the single-dose RSV vaccines. Currently the drug companies are manufacturing large quantities of their RSV vaccines for distribution, and we expect them to be available in Oregon later this year, likely in the fall before the start of RSV season.
“In terms of receiving these vaccines, at this point we see no reason why all three couldn’t be administered at the same visit; but technically speaking the jury is still out regarding the new COVID-19 vaccine. Assuming the CDC’s advisory committee recommends it after reviewing the data, they will likely offer guidance on whether it can be received at the same time as other vaccines.”
Q: My son has Providence primary insurance, OHP Open Card secondary. He was in Washington and had emergency surgery, unable to be transported back to Oregon as it was too urgent. I saw your blog about OHP paying for hotel stays. My wife drove from Eugene to Tumwater area and stayed at a hotel a few nights. Can this be reimbursed? – Stuart, Eugene
A: “The short answer is ‘maybe.’ Open Card members, by definition, aren’t enrolled in a coordinated care organization (CCO), and the health-related services you read about on our blog are available only to those enrolled in a CCO. However, Open Card members do have access to OHP transportation benefits, including mileage and lodging, and the travel expenses your wife incurred to be with your son might qualify. I suggest she call the Lane County OHP transit services (RideSource: 541-682-5566), explain the situation and ask if she can get either the mileage or hotel stay reimbursed, or both. If your son is an adult, he will likely need to be on the phone call as well. Many such benefits require prior approval, but given the emergency nature of the situation, it’s certainly worth asking, especially if your son is a minor and/or your wife’s presence was beneficial to his health. There may be a time limit for requesting reimbursement as well, usually around 45 days or less.
“If your son lives in a different Oregon county, check this map and look for the OHP transport service in his region for ‘all other members’ (which means Open Card). For example, if he lives in Multnomah County, that’s region #2 on the map, and you would call Tri-County MedLink at 866-336-2906. Alternatively, our website offers a similar directory to find OHP covered travel services, and you would look for ‘Fee-for-Service’ (another term for Open Card) in the ‘Covered by’ column on the far right. Good luck, and I hope your son is doing well.”
If you have questions about health topics in Oregon, submit your question here. Although we are unable to answer every question, we try to address those that may be of interest to a broader audience. Please understand that we are unable to provide specific medical advice for personal medical conditions.
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