Private company will offer flu shots

A Columbia, Md., company is expected to give half of the flu and pneumonia vaccinations usually done by Jefferson County's Public Health Service this fall, a move being touted as a cost savings to customers and the county agency.

Maxim Health Systems is expected to operate 24 clinics this year, which would allow Public Health to drop its number from 54 clinics last year to an estimated 27 events this fall.

The private company, which orders millions of shots for distribution nationwide, will offer flu shots locally for $30 and pneumococcal vaccines for $45. Public Health, which ordered 2,750 flu shots last summer, charged $32 for flu shots and $48 for pneumococcal vaccines last year.

Jean A. Bilow, Public Health Services director, said the two agencies also could run joint clinics.

"I think it's an asset for Maxim to partner with a local public health service which has a positive name in the community," she said.

Miss Bilow also sees potential positives for her department, which spent 1,199 hours last year on flu and pneumonia vaccine clinics. Her staff can be redeployed to other services, like prevention programs and home health visits.

The director estimates that the $80,000 in revenue the clinics generated last year was eaten up by personnel costs, as well as the expense of the vaccine, supplies and advertising.

"With this arrangement, we'll decrease future expenses that might have been incurred by the department," she said, such as the costs for adding part-time staff or reimbursing mileage.

Maxim, she said, will schedule and advertise the clinics, staff and supply them and do all billing for Medicare Part B and managed care plans. It will also take cash for those not covered by insurance.

Public Health will continue to help those under 18 years of age or who are unable to pay full price and staff clinics where fewer than 40 people are expected.

Since Maxim has access to millions of doses, Miss Bilow said, it can prevent Jefferson County from incurring any shortages.

The partnership was recommended for approval Tuesday by the county Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee. The full board will vote Aug. 5.

The partnership won't cost the county any money, Miss Bilow said. Maxim already has similar arrangements with Onondaga, Oneida and Madison counties. It has operated clinics at food markets and drugstores in Jefferson County since 1997.

Miss Bilow said Maxim's increased presence does not mean Public Health will phase itself out of the vaccination service.

"I think Public Health will always play a role," she said.

At Tuesday's meeting, the county also announced it will receive about $52,000 in a settlement from Bristol-Myers Squibb, which resolves a lawsuit brought by 49 New York counties against the pharmaceutical company.

The counties accused Bristol-Myers Squibb of inflating prices for its prescription drugs, which caused overcharges to each county's Medicaid budget. Jefferson County also is involved in suits against 47 other pharmaceutical companies alleging similar practices; those cases are still pending.