Information for Providers

TOP
Information for Providers

SHARE

Share by Email
Share by Facebook
Share by Twitter

Overview

Providers, please encourage patients to stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and to contact you or another health care provider if they test positive, as both vaccination and treatment can reduce the chances of severe COVID-19 and hospitalization.  You will find information below on current treatment options, vaccine resources for providers, current guidance documents, and more.

Oral Antivirals

Overview

Oral antiviral treatment works by targeting specific proteins on the SARS-CoV-2 virus to prevent efficient virus replication within the host cell. 

Paxlovid and molnupiravir reduce the risk of hospitalization and death by 88% and 30% respectively, in patients at high-risk for severe COVID-19 when started early after symptom onset. 

As of November 1st, 2023, COVID-19 antivirals, Paxlovid and Lagevrio (molnupiravir), will begin their transition from United State Government distribution to traditional commercial channels. Please refer to the Commercialization section for more information regarding this transition. 

Eligibility

The FDA authorized two oral antivirals, Pfizer's Paxlovid and Merck's molnupiravir, for the treatment of COVID-19 in certain patients who: 

  • Have tested positive for COVID-19 and have had symptoms for 5 days or less. 
  • Are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death. 
  • Meet certain criteria depending on the antiviral. 

The FDA also expanded approval of Veklury (remdesivir) to include pediatric patients 28 days of age and older weighing at least 3 kilograms (about 7 pounds) with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing who are: 

  • Hospitalized, or 
  • Not hospitalized and have mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death. 

Health care providers should discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with their patients. 

Commercialization

As of November 1st, 2023, both Lagevrio and Paxlovid will begin their transition from United State Government distribution to traditional commercial channels. Wholesale distributors anticipate having commercial orders filled within one to two weeks. 

Any supply of U.S. government-issued therapeutics, including Paxlovid, must remain available to patients at no cost. Paxlovid should be dispensed to patients until the provider has commercial supply stocked. Moreover, Lagevrio should be dispensed to patients until depletion or expiration, whichever comes first. Once commercialized, programs will be established to ensure that Paxlovid is available to uninsured and underinsured individuals. Please refer to the Programs for Underinsured and Uninsured Individuals section for more information regarding these programs. 

Paxlovid Disposal Management 

Any expired product should be disposed of through the manufacturers return process or on site in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations.  

Lagevrio Disposal Management 

Product cannot be returned or disposed of unless expired (first expiry is in 2024). Once expired, product should be disposed of through the manufacturers return process or on site in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations.  

USG Inventory Reporting  

In accordance with the COVID-19 Therapeutics Provider Agreement, providers are expected to continue to provide reporting of all USG courses that they received and should report inventory, administration/dispensing, and disposal data until the provider’s USG product inventory is fully reconciled. Please do not record inventory or dispensing of commercially acquired inventory into HPOP, only USG product should be entered into current HPOP reporting fields.  

Paxlovid and Lagevrio Expiry  

The USG-procured supply has a distinct National Drug Code from the commercial EUA-labeled supply. The first lot expiry of government purchased Paxlovid began on July 31st, 2023, and most in field is later. The first lots of government purchased Lagevrio will begin expiring in February 2024 and the last in February 2025. Please continue to check the ASPR searchable expiration database for specific expiration dates.  

Resources 

For more information regarding the commercialization of Paxlovid, please refer to the COVID-19 Therapeutics Commercialization Transition Guide. 

Programs for Uninsured and Underinsured Individuals

Paxlovid Patient Assistance Program (PAP) 

Through December 31, 2024, anyone uninsured or covered by federal programs, such as Medicare or Medicaid, can receive USG procured, NDA-labeled Paxlovid at no cost through the USG PAP operated by Pfizer until 2028. Participating PAP dispensing sites will be sent replacement product for any dispensed product within this program.  

Starting January 1, 2025, eligible uninsured and underinsured patients can receive USG procured, NDA-labeled Paxlovid at no cost. Participating PAP dispensing sites will be sent replacement product for any dispensed product within this program. 

For retail pharmacies that would like to participate in the Patient Assistance Program, please contact the program vendor at [email protected] or call 1-877-219-7225.  

Paxlovid Co-pay Savings Program  

A co-pay savings program will be available for eligible commercially insured patients. More information will be provided shortly.  

Lagverio Patient Assistance Program  

This private and confidential program provides medicine, free of charge, for up to one year to eligible individuals, mostly the uninsured, who, without our assistance, could not afford needed Merck medicines. This program is expected to begin mid-November, 2023. For more information, please refer to the Merck Patient Assistance Program brochure or call 1-800-727-5400.  

Lagevrio Bulk Replacement Program  

For more information on the bulk replacement program, please call 1-888-727-8180. 

Availability

HHS has created two resources to assist providers: 

 Patients will require a prescription for Paxlovid and molnupiravir (Lagevrio). 

Contact

Please contact the COVID-19 Therapeutics team at [email protected] if you have any questions and/or concerns. 

Monoclonal Antibody (mAb) Therapeutics

Beginning in September 2021, the New York State Department of Health (Department) began managing the distribution process for monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapeutics within the State. There is no product currently available. 

There are some products that were previously distributed but are not currently authorized for use in New York. These products are:  

Please see the Oral Antivirals section for available treatments.

Vaccine Resources

Guidance

Find current and archived COVID-19 guidance documents released by New York State since the start of the pandemic.

COVID-19 GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS

Additional Information

Create a Health Commerce Account

All healthcare providers should have a Health Commerce Account. Create an account here.

Community Programs

New York State Public Health Corps

New York State is seeking public health professionals to build public health capacity to increase preparedness for future health emergencies.

Health Care Provider Reserve Workforce

Licensed health care professionals are encouraged to register as a volunteer with ServNY to help with the State's response to a future public health emergency.