Thread by @DataDrivenMD, In California: investigative journalists would do well to ask if Blue Shield’s [...]

In California: investigative journalists would do well to ask if Blue Shield’s in-network providers were given a disproportionately

number of vaccine doses. https://twitter.com/thegarance/status/1381262460804608006

https://twitter.com/thegarance/status/1381262460804608006

Here’s part of the data https://public.tableau.com/profile/ca.open.data#!/vizhome/COVID-19VaccineAllocationbyLHJ/AllocationbyCounty

COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation by LHJ

COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation by LHJ

https://public.tableau.com/profile/ca.open.data#!/vizhome/COVID-19VaccineAllocationbyLHJ/AllocationbyCounty

Why did the state allow Blue Shield to interrupt vaccine shipments to providers that didn’t play by its rules?

source: https://eziz.org/assets/docs/COVID19/Vax58ProviderFAQs.pdf#page5

Fact check: several of the vaccination sites are supplied directly via parallel federal programs (e.g. FQHCs, retail pharmacies).

Are they forced to become part of Blue Shield’s network? Or is Blue Shield overstating its role?

source: https://news.blueshieldca.com/2021/03/10/state-of-californias-enhanced-covid-19-vaccine-provider-network

“A TPA can also charge specific fees for its services, or it may make money through a combination of commission and fees depending on the scope of the services they provide”

Is Blue Shield generating revenue on top of the $15m paid by the state?

https://www.associationhealthplans.com/group-health/what-is-tpa/

Follow-up: Blue Shield is claiming credit for vaccine providers for which it doesn’t have a direct relationship.

These are primarily federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), which are providers that serve primarily minority and immigrant communities. https://twitter.com/DataDrivenMD/status/1381270089845014529

https://twitter.com/DataDrivenMD/status/1381270089845014529

So, the state paid $15m to Blue Shield, and the insurer is taking credit for the work of community clinics, local government, and federal programs. Cool. Cool.

Wholeheartedly agree that *massive* investments in grassroots partnerships are necessary at this point, which is why Blue Shield’s misleading statements are harmful. The company is taking credit for grassroots efforts that deliver real #VaccineEquity. https://twitter.com/christianarana/status/1381280134674620416

https://twitter.com/christianarana/status/1381280134674620416

@LatinoCommFdn is funding a COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Alameda and @HRSAgov is also chipping in, but Blue Shield of California is taking credit for their work to achieve #VaccineEquity

Sources:
https://latinocf.org/latino-community-foundation-invests-2-million-to-increase-covid-19-vaccine-rates-in-hard-hit-latino-communities/

https://bphc.hrsa.gov/emergency-response/coronavirus-covid19-FY2020-awards/ca

https://news.blueshieldca.com/2021/03/10/state-of-californias-enhanced-covid-19-vaccine-provider-network

Comparing Blue Shield’s list of vaccination providers in underserved communities to the list of federal grant recipients, we see that Blue Shield’s #VaccineEquity strategy amounts to taking credit for others’ work.

https://bphc.hrsa.gov/emergency-response/coronavirus-covid19-FY2020-awards/ca

https://news.blueshieldca.com/2021/03/10/state-of-californias-enhanced-covid-19-vaccine-provider-network

Data. Doesn’t. Lie. — the US gov’t is shipping COVID-19 doses directly to ~50% of the sites Blue Shield *claims* as part of its #VaccineEquity effort. Where is BS sending its doses?

analysis: mine
data:
https://www.hrsa.gov/coronavirus/health-center-program/participants/ca

https://www.ihs.gov/sites/coronavirus/themes/responsive2017/display_objects/documents/IHS_COVID-19_Vaccine_Distribution_List_by_Area.pdf

https://news.blueshieldca.com/2021/03/10/state-of-californias-enhanced-covid-19-vaccine-provider-network

This #VaccineEquity effort is in partnership with the County of Sacramento, which also gets COVID-19 vaccine doses directly from the federal government, but Blue Shield claims this vaccine provider as its own.

Which providers are *actually* receiving doses from Blue Shield? https://twitter.com/cmmaivang/status/1381303754989826048

https://twitter.com/cmmaivang/status/1381303754989826048

Data. Doesn’t. Lie.— According to the CDC Blue Shield controls 75% of COVID-19 vaccine doses delivered to the state of California. If they’re not going to #VaccineEquity efforts, then *where* are they going?

source: CDC
URL: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/distributing/jurisdiction-portfolios.html

Why did VP Harris intervene in order to save a mass vaccination site that primarily serves BIPOC Californians?

Why couldn’t Blue Shield allocate doses previously supplied by FEMA? Where are the doses going?

URL: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/distributing/jurisdiction-portfolios.html
cc @MeghanBobrowsky @JoaquinPalomino https://twitter.com/sfchronicle/status/1379203152658923521

Is Blue Shield gaming the system to avoid being in breach of contract?

Ensuring #VaccineEquity, including the enrollment of providers in underserved areas, is literally in Blue Shield’s contract with the state of California.

full contract here: https://files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/Blue-shield-of-california-GovOps.pdf

Why did the state give Blue Shield virtually unilateral control over which providers get access to COVID-19 vaccine doses?

Did Blue Shield give its existing in-network providers exclusive/early access to COVID-19 vaccine doses?

full contract here: https://files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/Blue-shield-of-california-GovOps.pdf

Why did the state give Blue Shield virtually unilateral control over which providers receive *financial incentives* for COVID-19 vaccinations?

Does Blue Shield’s formula give its existing in-network providers a financial advantage?

full contract here: https://files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/Blue-shield-of-california-GovOps.pdf

Is Blue Shield counting doses administered by providers outside of the network it actually controls in order to meet capacity and equity metrics spelled out in the contract?

full contract here: https://files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/Blue-shield-of-california-GovOps.pdf