With influenza, COVID-19 variants and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) circulating, experts are calling annual flu season a potential “tripledemic.” All three viruses are especially dangerous for older adults, which makes vaccination even more crucial. Your patients trust your medical advice, including whether to get vaccinated. A strong recommendation from you can be a key factor in their decision to protect themselves. 

Encourage your patients to get vaccinated 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the SHARE method when discussing the flu shot:* 

• SHARE the reasons why a flu vaccine is right for the patient. 
• HIGHLIGHT positive experiences with flu vaccines to reinforce the benefits and strengthen confidence in the flu vaccination. 
• ADDRESS patient questions and any concerns about flu vaccines. 
• REMIND patients that flu vaccines help protect them and their loved ones from serious illness or even death for some people. 
• EXPLAIN the potential costs of getting the flu, including serious health effects, time, or financial costs, as well as the potential to spread the flu to more vulnerable family members or friends. 

Flu vaccine administration also drives Star ratings under the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Staying Healthy: Screening, Tests, and Vaccines domain. The percentage of plan enrollees who get the flu shot is measured via the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS^®) survey.

Cigna Healthcare offers a variety of resources and tools to help with patient flu education at the Cigna Healthcare Medicare Advantage provider website at MedicareProviders.Cigna.com > Provider Education > STARS Education > CAHPS/HOS Resources.

Free flu shot and provider resources

For your practice 

• Flu shot toolkit: Drive patient awareness about the flu vaccine and its benefits by ordering our free flu shot toolkit. These kits provide patient-facing visual reminders, such as posters, brochures, buttons, vaccination record cards/holders, and badge buddies. Contact your Cigna Healthcare Stars representative for more information and to order.
• Medicare Seasonal Vaccine Coverage, Reimbursement, and Patient Education Information [PDF].
• COVID-19 & Flu Season — How to talk to your Medicare Patients [PDF].

These resources are available on at MedicareProviders.Cigna.com.

For your patients

• Flu Vaccines: Should I Get a Flu Vaccine?, available at Cigna.com/knowledge-center/hw/medical-topics/flu-vaccines-tb1913.
• Influenza (Seasonal Flu), available at Cigna.com/knowledge-center/hw/medical-topics/influenza-hw122012.
• Vaccines to Prevent the Flu, available at Cigna.com/knowledge-center/hw/vaccines-to-prevent-the-flu-abr9348.

* “Make a Strong Influenza Vaccine Recommendation.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 21 September 2022. Retrieved from https://www.CDC.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/flu-vaccine-recommendation.htm.