Page 17 - Work Force February 2024

Empire Plan vaccine
coverage at network
pharmacy
Besides the availability of vaccinations administered at an Empire Plan participating physician’s office, select preventive vaccines are covered without copayment when administered at a pharmacy that participates in the CVS Caremark national vaccine network.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently focused attention on three vaccinations: influenza (flu),
COVID-19 and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).
Influenza (Flu)
Influenza viruses
typically spread in fall
and winter, with activity
peaking between December
and February. Flu is a serious disease, caused by influenza viruses, that can lead to hospitalization
and even death. Every flu season is different, and the substantial health impacts can vary widely from season to season. The best defense against influenza is to get a flu vaccine every year.
RSV vaccines
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines are available for people who are age 60 or older. RSV is a highly contagious virus that causes mild, cold-like symptoms in most people. Some people, particularly infants and older adults, are more
likely to develop severe RSV disease and need hospitalization.
In older adults, RSV
infection can lead to lower respiratory
tract disease (LRTD) such as pneumonia or bronchiolitis. There are FDA- approved vaccines
to prevent RSV LRTD in adults age 60 and older. Talk to a health
care provider to see if the RSV vaccine is right for you.
COVID-19
According to the FDA, some viruses, like the virus that causes COVID-19, can change over time. Vaccines that target those viruses may be updated to better protect against disease. An updated vaccine
can help give you the best protection available against COVID-19.
For more information about these FDA vaccination recommendations, visit http://tinyurl.com/ FDAVaccineResources.
Vaccines available without copayment at a CVS Caremark national vaccine network pharmacy include:
• Influenza (Flu)
• COVID-19
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus
(RSV)
• Pneumococcal (pneumonia) • Meningococcal (meningitis) • Herpes Zoster (shingles)
• Tetanus, Diptheria, Pertussis
and DTap
• Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella
• Varicella
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) To find out if a pharmacy
participates in the CVS Caremark national vaccine network, visit www.empireplanrxprogram.com and select CVS Caremark, then select “Find a Local Pharmacy.” Be sure
to select “Vaccine network” under Advanced Search. Call the pharmacy in advance to verify availability of the vaccine.
If you have any questions about vaccination coverage or need help locating a pharmacy, call the Empire Plan at 1-877-769-7447 and press or say 4 to reach the Prescription Drug Program.
care, nutrition, postpartum depression, and the Empire Plan’s Building Healthy Families Program.
In addition to the above publications, NYSHIP Online includes other topics of interest. Visit
NYSHIP Online at www.cs.ny.gov/ employee-benefits. Choose your group (active state, then CSEA and Empire Plan). From the main menu, select ‘using your benefits’ and under publications, choose “Reporting On” for more information.
To reach the Reporting On page directly, visit http://tinyurl.com/ reporting-on.
“Reporting On” publications describe benefits
The Empire Plan’s “Reporting On” publications are issued periodically by the New York State Department of Civil Service to Empire Plan enrollees and their enrolled dependents.
The publications help describe benefits available under The Empire Plan. Recent publications are on Civil Service’s NYSHIP Online website and include topics such as:
• Asthma (November 2023)
This report will help provide
a better understanding
of asthma, its symptoms, treatments and The Empire Plan Asthma Support Program.
• Centers of Excellence (July
2023) Describes how the Empire Plan’s Centers of Excellence Programs for Cancer, Transplants, and Infertility can be utilized to help your family find peace of mind during a difficult time.
• Diabetes (October 2023) This report helps provide a better understanding of the disease, risk factors, and describes the important role of the Empire Plan’s HCAP for medically necessary diabetic supplies and diabetic shoes.
• (HCAP) Home Care Advocacy Program (June 2023) Explains the Empire Plan’s HCAP
coverage for covered skilled nursing care, home infusion therapy and durable medical equipment.
• Network Benefits (June
2023) Discusses the
benefits available to Empire Plan enrollees who use participating and network providers. Choosing an Empire Plan network Provider will maximize your benefits and minimize your out-of-pocket expenses.
• Healthy Babies (November 2023) Discusses important steps to take before the baby is born. Includes prenatal
February 2024
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