Access to COVID-19 Therapeutics: Reminders for Nursing Homes

Given the recent increase in COVID-19 cases, nursing homes and other providers may be seeking access to COVID-19 therapeutics for their residents and patients. General information about accessing monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies for COVID-19 is available here and here. Information about accessing oral antivirals is available here and here.

The Department of Health (DOH) has issued guidance to nursing homes about accessing COVID-19 therapeutics. Nursing homes that do not operate their own pharmacy may access mAb therapies and oral antivirals through long term care (LTC) pharmacies that participate in the Federal Pharmacy Partnership. A list of participating pharmacies is attached to this guidance. Nursing homes that do not have a contract with a participating pharmacy should contact DOH here.

Nursing homes that operate their own pharmacy must enroll in a specialized system to request mAb therapies and may request oral antivirals by sending a request to DOH here or through the Health Partner Order Portal (HPOP). Guidance on enrollment to request mAb therapies is available here. Providers that receive doses must report their inventory through HPOP in order to allow DOH to request additional supply from the federal government. For those providers that have not reported inventory before or are receiving product for the first time, the HPOP Provider User Guide provides detailed instructions at page 8.

Questions and requests for inventory may be sent to DOH here.

Contact: Karen Lipson, klipson@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8383