In Testimony Before U.S. Congress, PHCA President Alan G. Rosenbloom Says National Flu Vaccine Strategy Necessary to Ensure Expedited Dissemination.

WASHINGTON -- State Discretion With Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Guidance May Inadvertently Delay Vaccine Dissemination, Negatively Impacting Assisted Living and Other Congregate Care Residents

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) should adopt national guidelines to which state health departments must adhere when distributing the influenza vaccine to long term care patients in times of vaccine shortage, Alan Rosenbloom, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association (PHCA) and the Center for Assisted Living Management (CALM), testified today before the House Energy and Commerce Health and Oversight and Investigation Subcommittees.

Speaking on behalf of the American Health Care Association (AHCA) and the National Center For Assisted Living (NCAL)--of which PHCA/CALM is an affiliate--Rosenbloom specifically cited the difficulties Pennsylvania has had in assuring that its "priority" elderly populations include those who live in personal care homes and assisted living facilities. "Recognizing that an epidemic in any of our settings would be devastating, CDC rightly defined the long term care facility priority groups to include both skilled nursing and assisted living settings. However, formal guidance was not transmitted to state health departments, and many states have had difficulty prioritizing assisted living settings," he said.

Also contributing to flu vaccine distribution confusion has been a disconnect in communication between the CDC and the states, Rosenbloom said, noting that, despite CDC's aggressive work with AHCA/NCAL and vaccine manufacturer Aventis Pasteur to survey every long term care facility in the nation on their vaccine needs, several states have delayed the process by conducting additional surveys. "A national policy would mainstream the process and make it more efficient and effective," he said.

Following the recent announcement in Harrisburg that the Department of Health will distribute approximately 340,000 doses of flu vaccine the CDC has made available to Pennsylvanians most in need, Rosenbloom said PHCA and CALM will continue to work with Governor Rendell and Health Secretary Calvin Johnson to do whatever is necessary to help ensure distribution is expedited and directed towards seniors and staff in all of the Commonwealth's long term care settings.

"We will continue to monitor the vaccine distribution process and the criteria being employed very carefully to make sure all of our vulnerable populations in Pennsylvania are protected," added Rosenbloom. States also require further guidance on how to distribute partial orders of vaccine, he suggested, noting that many facilities are unsure which patients, residents, and staff they should vaccinate first when there is a shortage.

Additionally, AHCA/NCAL recommended that the government should design a reimbursement system for influenza anti-viral medications, especially since the CDC has stated that this year facilities should distribute these medications to non-vaccinated patients and residents in facilities that have experienced a flu outbreak.

Hal Daub, President and CEO of AHCA/NCAL commended the CDC on its efforts and its collaborative spirit to bring flu vaccines to our frail and vulnerable citizens living in long term care facilities. "Our patients and residents run a high risk of death should they contract influenza, and that is why the CDC and our entire profession are working to make sure our patients and residents are protected," Daub stated.

PHCA is a statewide membership services organization representing approximately 300 long-term care and senior service providers throughout the Commonwealth. Additional information about PHCA is available by calling 717-221-1800 or visiting www.phca.org.