Tag: Beyfortus

MHA Monday Report Oct. 28, 2024

Member News, Monday Report

Obtaining Beyfortus through the Vaccines for Children Program

Vaccination remains a key strategy to mitigate the impact of adverse health outcomes on patients and hospital operations during the 2024-2025 respiratory season. The MHA urges all birthing hospitals to become Vaccines for Children …

Webinar Outlines Policies to Remove Stigma from Credentialing Applications

The MHA and the MHA Keystone Center will host the MHA Health Foundation webinar Implementing Evidence-Informed Strategies to Normalize Help-Seeking and Strengthen Wellbeing from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Dec 4. The webinar will outline how …

A Healthier Future: Improving Access for Immigrant Families in Michigan

Accessing healthcare can be a daunting experience for anyone, but it poses unique challenges for immigrants and refugees. I recently participated in a breakout session at the Michigan Association for Local Public Health Conference held in …

Keckley Report

U.S. Healthcare in 2025 and Beyond: Three Major Predictions

“With 15 days before voters decide the composition of the 119th U.S. Congress and the next White House occupant, the immediate future for U.S. healthcare is both predictable and problematic:

  1. States will be the epicenter for healthcare legislation and regulation; federal initiatives will be substantially fewer.  …
  2.  Large employers will take direct action to control their health costs. …
  3.  Private equity and strategic investors will capitalize on healthcare market conditions. …

Combined, these three predictions foretell a U.S. healthcare system that faces a significant pressure to demonstrate value. They require every healthcare organization to assess long-term strategies in the likely context of reduced funding, increased regulation and heightened attention to prices and affordability. This is problematic for insiders accustomed to incrementalism that’s protected them from unwelcome changes for 3 decades.

Announcements last week by Walgreens and CVS about changes to their strategies going forward reflect the industry’s new normal: change is constant, success if not. In 2025, regardless of the election outcome, healthcare will be a major focus for lawmakers, regulators, employers and consumers.”

Paul Keckley, Oct. 21, 2024

News to Know

  • The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Voters in line at 8 p.m. can still cast ballots.
  • MHA endorsed business partner HSS has officially rebranded as Tarian, following its acquisition in 2022.

MHA EVP Laura Appel speaks with WOOD TV about the Baxter IV solutions shortage.

MHA in the News

The MHA received media coverage the week of Oct. 21 regarding the Baxter IV solutions shortage and the impact hospitals have in their local communities. WOOD TV aired a story Oct. 21 about the impact …

Obtaining Beyfortus through the Vaccines for Children Program

Member News

Vaccination remains a key strategy to mitigate the impact of adverse health outcomes on patients and hospital operations during the 2024-2025 respiratory season. The MHA urges all birthing hospitals to become Vaccines for Children (VFC) specialty providers to offer Beyfortus and expand access to eligible patients ahead of the upcoming respiratory season.

Beyfortus was approved by the FDA in July 2023 for preventing RSV lower respiratory tract disease in infants. Hospitals can acquire Beyfortus through direct/private purchase or through the VFC program. However, doses obtained through the VFC program can only be administered to patients who are eligible for the VFC program.

Birthing hospitals must become a VFC enrolled provider to order Beyfortus through the program. While there are three different types of VFC participation, only two allow for administration of Beyfortus:

  1. VFC Provider (providing all ACIP recommended vaccines)
  2. VFC Specialty Provider (providing Hepatitis B & Beyfortus only)

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and the Centers for Disease Control are encouraging all birthing hospitals to become a VFC Specialty Provider to protect Michigan infants against Hepatitis B and RSV. The process to become a VFC Specialty Provider differs slightly, depending on if a hospital is participating with the VFC as a Universal Hepatitis B Provider or not at all.

The steps in the graphic below outline how birthing hospitals can become a VFC Specialty Provider:

1 – MDHHS has created a Beyfortus Eligibility Tool to help birthing facilities with this process. Use of the tool is optional, however if it is used, it should be noted in the Eligibility Screening Plan in step two.
2 – Facilities should complete the Eligibility Screening Plan and submit it to the local health department.

Members with questions may contact Kelsey Ostergren at the MHA. Questions related to VFC program enrollment can be directed to the MDHHS Division of Immunizations.