Establishes a demonstration program to prevent influenza

BILL NUMBER:S4636A

Title of bill

An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to establishing a demonstration program to prevent influenza; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof

Purpose of the bill

This bill would establish a demonstration program in authorized regions of the State for the administration of the influenza vaccine by eligible health care providers as approved by the Superintendent of the Department of Financial Services.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 amends the Insurance Law by adding a new section 1123-a to create a three-year demonstration program to prevent influenza. Eligible insurers are authorized to expand beyond predetermined settings and providers currently eligible to provide the influenza vaccine to additional, eligible health care providers in defined regions of the state, as authorized by the Superintendent of the Department of Financial Services. Eligible health care provider, eligible insurer and region are defined and an approval process is established for eligible health care providers to seek approval from the Superintendent by written request for administration of influenza vaccine if they meet certain requirements in an authorized region.

Section 2 provides that the act shall take effect January 1, 2013 and shall expire January 1, 2016.

Justification

Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness that causes, on average, over 200,000 people in the U.S. to be hospitalized each year, and Over 36,000 people (primarily elderly) to die from related complications. The best way to help prevent seasonal influenza is by getting a vaccination each year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends annual seasonal influenza vaccination for all eligible persons, including children aged 6 months through 18 years of age. Unfortunately, vaccination rates for school-aged children 5 to 17 years of age remain very low, with only 35% of high risk children vaccinated and 25% of healthy children receiving the vaccine.

Increasing the vaccination rates of children is critical to protecting their health and preventing the spread of the virus to vulnerable individuals in the community such as the elderly and those with comprised immune systems. Children and young adults are three to four times more likely to be infected with influenza. They are the major vectors for transmitting the virus to adults and elderly persons in the community.

Conducting influenza vaccination programs on-site in the schools has been shown to be an effective method of increasing vaccination rates. Studies show that mass vaccination programs in schools also help to reduce student absences and increase adult workdays (King .J, Stoddard JJ, Gaglani MJ et. al. Effectiveness of school-based

influenza vaccination. N Engl J Med 2006,355:2523-2532). Similar studies and data from the Centers for Disease Control and prevention have demonstrated the efficacy of pharmacy-based influenza vaccinations in significantly increasing vaccination rates.

This bill would create a demonstration program to provide additional access points including school-based clinics, pharmacies and other approved settings for the administration of the influenza vaccine and coverage in order to enhance public health and the State's pandemic preparedness.

Prior legislative history

None.

Fiscal implications

None to the State.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on January 1, 2013 and shall expire January 1, 2016 when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed.