State Issues Additional Information on TPA Framework, Identifies County Onboarding Waves

Today, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued additional information on the statewide vaccine network to be operated by third-party administrator (TPA) Blue Shield of California. The announcement details the forthcoming changes that will occur as the TPA framework is gradually implemented over the month of March. According to the state, it remains on track to establish the capacity to administer three million vaccinations per week by March 1.

As counties and providers are onboarded to the TPA over the coming weeks, MyTurn.ca.gov will become the primary source for state residents to sign up for COVID-19 vaccination appointments. As part of today’s announcement, the state and Blue Shield detailed an updated implementation timeline for the statewide vaccine network. This includes:

On March 1:

• All providers and local health jurisdictions will move to a uniform, state-directed eligibility criteria.
• Blue Shield of California will begin making allocation recommendations to state officials for doses delivered the following week. The state will make final allocation decisions, continuing to utilize the existing split prioritizing 70 percent of doses for residents age 65 and older and 30 percent of doses for specified sectors.
• Wave 1 and Wave 2 counties will continue onboarding.
• The TPA, in partnership with counties, will continue targeted equity strategies, including farmworker mobile and pop-up sites and opening clinics in lowest quartile HPI tracts.

On March 7:

• Wave 2 and Wave 3 counties will continue onboarding.

On March 31:

• Blue Shield of California will take full management responsibility for the statewide vaccine network and continue providing vaccine allocation recommendations to the state to assist in allocation decisions.

Additional information, including the listing of counties included in the three TPA onboarding waves, is available here.