Last week, CAFP sent a letter to Blue Shield of California, in their capacity as the third party administrator (TPA) for COVID-19 vaccine distribution. We have been urging Blue Shield to allocate vaccines to community-based primary care clinics and physician practices to ensure the equitable administration of vaccines, including to hard-to-reach populations like the unsheltered, undocumented immigrants, and minority and marginalized communities.
As a result, CAFP is now working with other organizations to engage with Blue Shield to ensure family physicians are part of the network administering vaccines. We are in the process of reviewing contracts Blue Shield has developed for providers who are interested in working with the TPA to administer the vaccine.
We have been working hard behind the scenes to help advocate for the inclusion of primary care practices and to get information about what the roll-out will look like, and how practices can be prepared. Given the tangled bundle of information, multiple entities involved, and the speed at which the state and TPA are having to stand up this new system, reliable information has been elusive. We do not want to send you incorrect or changing information. We know our members are anxious to help patients get the COVID-19 vaccine. We will share more information on the contracts and updates on the distribution of vaccines as we get it.
