It’s time to talk with your patients about flu shots. The CDC recommends annual flu shots for everyone six months and older. September and October are the best times for most people to get vaccinated.

Consider giving a preferred vaccine to patients 65 years and older. Preferred vaccines are potentially more effective than standard dose flu vaccines. There are three recommended vaccines:

1. Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent vaccine
2. Flublok Quadrivalent recombinant flu vaccine
3. Fluad Quadrivalent adjuvanted flu vaccine

If one of these recommended vaccines isn’t available, give your patients a standard-dose flu vaccine instead.

Medicare Part B covers the seasonal flu shot and additional flu shots if medically necessary. Your patients pay nothing if you accept assignment.

Find out when your patients are eligible for the flu shot. Medicare provides information from claims billed in the last 18 months:

• CPT or HCPCS codes
• Dates of service
• NPIs who administered the shots

Additional Resources

• CDC Flu webpage
• CDC Seasonal Influenza Resources for Health Professionals webpage
• Vaccines.gov website
• Flu shots: Get information for your Medicare patients