ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association issued the following statement today on behalf of CEO B. Douglas Hoey in response to the Biden administration’s decision to nearly double the Medicare reimbursement rate for administering the COVID-19 vaccine:

B. Douglas Hoey

“The COVID-19 vaccine is only as effective as the distribution system. There are more than 21,000 small business community and long-term care pharmacies in the country. Many are administering the vaccine now, but some would lose money at the current reimbursement rate. Increasing the Medicare rate from an average of $23 per vaccination to $40 per vaccination allows community pharmacists to recoup the additional personnel, administrative, and capital expenses associated with immunizing their patients.

“This is an important, positive decision that will accelerate the vaccine administration program and get shots in arms more quickly. We would like to see it replicated for Medicaid and private plans to maximize the number of patients immunized as soon as possible.”