Fully insured members of AvMed Health to receive coverage for H1N1 flu administration fees

AvMed Health Plans announced that it will cover H1N1 flu administration fees for all of its fully insured members. Co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles will not apply for administration of the H1N1 vaccine even if they have a benefit plan that does not include immunizations.

"AvMed is committed to the health and well-being of our members and we want to ensure that the H1N1 national emergency vaccination effort goes as smoothly as possible," said Kirk Cianciolo, D.O., Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of AvMed Health Plans.

Additionally, AvMed is providing members and employers educational materials related to H1N1 virus, including the following current guidelines and information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

The CDC is recommending that programs and providers administer the vaccine to persons in the following five target groups (order of target groups does not indicate priority):

• Pregnant women,
• Persons who live with or provide care for infants aged <6 months (e.g., parents, siblings, and daycare providers),
• Health care and emergency medical services personnel,
• Persons aged 6 months through 24 years, and
• Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications.

AvMed is closely monitoring the developments related to the H1N1 flu vaccine. For more information, log on to www.avmed.org or www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu.