On July 29, 2022, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul signed Executive Order No. 20 declaring a disaster emergency in the State of New York due to the ongoing spread of the monkeypox virus (MPV).
Vaccines
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is providing two, free immunizations, licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA):
- JYNNEOS (also known as Imvamune or Imvanex)
- ACAM2000
MPV vaccine administration is a covered benefit for EmblemHealth Medicaid members. We will reimburse providers for the administration of these vaccines.
Reporting
Healthcare providers must immediately report suspected cases of orthopoxvirus/MPV to their local county health department (LCHD). Reporting should be to the county where the patient resides. For reporting outside of New York City (NYC), contact information can be found on the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) County Health Departments web page. Providers who are unable to reach the LCHD where the patient resides must contact the NYSDOH Bureau of Communicable Disease Control (BCDC) by telephone at 518-473-4439 during business hours or 866-881-2809 during evenings, weekends, and holidays. NYC residents suspected of MPV infection should be reported to the NYC Health Department Provider Access Line (PAL) by telephone at 866-692-3641.
Testing
Testing for MPV is available at the NYSDOH Wadsworth Center Biodefense Laboratory and the NYC Public Health Laboratory. Specimen collection and submission must be coordinated with the LCHD and/or NYSDOH. Within NYC, coordination must be done in consultation with the NYC Health Department.
For more information on the identification, specimen collection, testing, vaccine administration, and treatment for suspected cases of orthopoxvirus/MPV, see the July 2022 issue of New York State Medicaid Update.
JP #56547 9/2022
