HHS: Insurers Are Committed To ‘Fully Covering’ New Covid Vaccines

The Hill: Biden Administration Draws Commitment From Health Insurers To Cover COVID-19 Shots
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) met with representatives from the health insurance industry on Wednesday, receiving commitments that the updated COVID-19 vaccines will be covered after reports arose of some people having to pay out-of-pocket for their immunizations. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra met with executives from Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), the Better Medicare Alliance, CareFirst, Cigna, Humana, and CVS Health, which owns Aetna as well as AHIP, the trade organization that represents the health insurance industry. (Choi, 9/27)

NBC News: Insurance Hurdles For New Covid Vaccines Have Largely Been Resolved, Biden Administration Says
Last week, as the updated Covid vaccines rolled out to pharmacies across the U.S., some people eager to get their doses were met with unexpected insurance issues ... On Wednesday, the Department of Health and Human Services said the issue has been "largely, if not completely," resolved. The insurance companies made it clear that they are "fully covering the new vaccine shots," according to a rundown of the meeting shared by HHS. They described the problem of some people being denied coverage as "systemic technical issues." (Lovelace Jr., 9/27)

Stat: The United States Is Paying Nearly Triple For New Covid Vaccines
After Pfizer and Moderna hiked the prices of their Covid-19 vaccines this year, the federal government will now pay nearly three times more than it did previously for each dose. And it’s paying more than countries that did far less to support vaccine development. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra glossed over the dramatic increase in the amount the government is paying for vaccines in a public appearance last week, when he got vaccinated at a CVS pharmacy in D.C. (Cohrs, 9/28)

In other covid vaccine developments —

The New York Times: As Covid Infections Rise, Nursing Homes Are Still Waiting For Vaccines
“Covid is not pretty in a nursing home,” said Deb Wityk, a 70-year-old retired massage therapist who lives in one called Spurgeon Manor, in rural Iowa. She has contracted the disease twice, and is eager to get the newly approved vaccine because she has chronic leukemia, which weakens her immune system. (Rau and Leys, 9/27)

Los Angeles Times: LAUSD Repeals Employee COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate
“Yes, this board approved, required vaccinations, as a means of reducing transmission, reducing the severity of a disease that in this community, across this country and across the world killed millions,” L.A. Unified Supt. Alberto Carvalho said. “This was a necessary requirement, and it was adopted so that schools could reopen safely based on information that was known, then accepted, then verified, then validated ... not by speculation, but by scientists. “In 2023,” he added, “we face vastly different circumstances.” (Blume, 9/27)

On funding for an innovative covid vaccine —

Stat: Next-Gen Covid Effort Gives Small Biotech Up To $433 Million
The U.S. government’s “Project Nextgen,” its effort to accelerate and streamline the rapid development of the next generation of Covid vaccines and treatments, said Wednesday that it would give a small biotechnology firm, Gritstone bio, up to $433 million to conduct a 10,000-volunteer clinical trial testing a new approach to creating a vaccine. (Herper, 9/27)

Reuters: Gritstone Bio Wins $433 Million US Contract For COVID Vaccine Study
Gritstone bio (GRTS.O) on Wednesday secured a $433 million contract by the U.S. government to conduct a mid-stage study of its self-amplifying mRNA COVID-19 vaccine candidate. The contract is a part of "Project NextGen," an initiative by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to advance a pipeline of new, innovative vaccines and therapeutics providing broader and more durable protection against COVID-19 infection. (9/27)