To the Editor,
On Saturday January 16th I received my 1st dose of the Covid19 vaccine at G. Ray Bodley high school in Fulton. The event was very well attended and very well organized!
Ever since the announcement of the availability of the Covid19 vaccine all Government info stated that the vaccine would be free! Remember these words!
While standing in line waiting for my shot a person made an announcement to “have your insurance card ready.” It didn’t quite sink in at that moment but soon I was standing in front of a table and a young lady asked for my Insurance card. At this point I said “Not that it matters but why do you need my Insurance card.” She called over another young lady and she said “It is for the cost of administering.” I said “OK” and I let it pass as I was more worried about getting a shot.
The charge was a little over $16.00. Now remember the words from above ”The Vaccine would be free.”
Now I did hear that the vaccine is free but an agency administering the vaccine may charge an administering fee.
I could understand this fee if we were going to our private Dr. office to receive this vaccine for Covid19. As I stated above we were at G. Ray Bodley HS in Fulton, and this vaccine was being administered by Oswego County Office for the Aging.
This is a County Agency funded by Oswego County tax dollars paid by Oswego County taxpayers.
At the November 12th full Legislative meeting Resolution #213 the Legislature accepted $304,948 dollars for Covid19 support and response. This money must be used by June 2022.
So with the statements from the government and the info about the funding, I must ask why the people getting a shot on Saturday were being charged a administering fee.
Is this just another way for Oswego County to profit from the public’s misfortune? We didn’t ask to have this pandemic and we all pay taxes to our Local, State and Federal governments and school districts.
So why should we have to pay for a vaccine being administered by a County Agency in a City School Building? Taxpayer money should be used to perform services for the taxpayers, there is money in each government agency’s fund balance to cover the costs for administering the vaccine.
No government should profit from the misfortune of its people. The State and Federal Governments are providing funds for local governments to battle the Covid19 pandemic.
Any costs incurred by any local government agency for the battle of the Covid19 will be reimbursed by either the State or Federal Government.
So in ending!
Stop Double Dipping Oswego County !
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to Justice everywhere” MLK
“The Time is always right to do what is right” Unknown.
-Frank Castiglia Jr.
Discover more from Oswego County Today
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Just 1 correction: This event was aided by OFA not sponsored by them, it was Oswego County Health that held the event.
Mr. Castiglia is incorrect. Resolution 213 accepts a $304,948 grant over a 3-year period, but NOT for vaccination programs. The grant pays for three temporary positions to do COVID contact tracing and exposure investigations. A memo and position forms were attached and made part of the Resolution available to the public.
We receive the vaccine at no cost, so we do not bill for it. We can bill insurance companies for administrative costs only, so that we can recoup that expense for our taxpayers. This is standard practice for all our vaccination clinics when State or Federally funded vaccine is used.
Also, if a person has no health insurance to cover the admin fee, we do not charge that person the fee. They receive the shot anyway, because increasing public immunity and protecting people is the priority.
Respectfully,
Philip Church, Oswego County Administrator
Mr. Church, The resolution lists the functions that may be performed under the resolution, it is not saying only those functions maybe included. Also this is not your Standard practice. This is the only County Govt. that I know of that is charging a fee. It is not Kinney Drugs this is a County Govt. agency that is paid for with County Taxpayer dollars. Also to include the Vaccine in the resolution all the Legis. had to do was request a repurpose for that grant. In the first paragraph under summary it states “$304,000 in grant funding to SUPPORT COVID-19 RESPONSE, If getting a vaccine for Covid-19 isn’t( not is) a response to Covid 19 I don’t know what is.
Mr. Castiglia:
The County received the grant for a specific purpose only. While quoting part of one sentence to support your assertion, you failed to quote the very next sentence: “The requirement of the grant is expanding capacity by adding positions to concentrate on COVID tracking and tracing.” Even if we could repurpose the grant, it would be ill advised to do so because counties are still required to perform contact tracing and exposure investigations, which are becoming more numerous.
On December 16, 2020 the Governor’s Office issued the following “To help ensure New Yorkers are able to access the vaccine at no cost, the Department of Financial Services has also issued a directive to New York health insurers to immediately cover, without cost-sharing, approved COVID-19 immunizations and their administration.” So again, there is no cost to the individual, even from a deductible.
You are correct that County agencies are taxpayer-funded. That is precisely why we submit the administration costs to insurers, so that we can recoup the taxpayers’ costs.
Respectfully,
Philip Church
Oswego County Administrator
There is always some “Karen” who always has to complain about something. Maybe be grateful and appreciate the fact that they are doing the vaccines and that you got yours.
Mr. Church, You and I know that the rest of that statement is a fill in by the county to make a statement as to what they plan on using the grant for. You and I both know that if the vaccine had been available back in Oct. the vaccine would have been in the use line. Not what the Grant said it has to be used for. Come on Phil, plus your worry about not having more money to do more contact tracing is a little premature, we have a new administration in Washington and more money will be coming. Plus you have the fund balance to use for just this such thing.
Heather, I don’t see how I should or anyone should be happy about paying for anything twice. Maybe you do but many people don’t. Yes we are all happy to have a vaccine but in the words of the Federal Govt. “It’s Free” well billing my insurance co. for the costs of administering the vaccine isn’t free. So call me what ever name you want.
At least I use my own name on here. Why don’t you try it.
Frank thank you for continuing to be acwarch dog for the people!!!