Progress is being made with COVID-19 vaccinations in the County. We started with those 70+ years of age being the first to receive their vaccine, and now anyone 16+ years of age is eligible. There are so many reasons why it’s important to get vaccinated once you are eligible. Santa Barbara County Public Health estimates that if we can get our population vaccinated and keep our cases down, we could reach the beginning of our immunity level in July. There is also a concern over new variants of the virus which have the potential to cause another surge. These variants are present in our County, and with the vaccines proving effecting against these variants, it is another reason to get your vaccine as soon as you are eligible.

Santa Barbara County residents ages 16+ are now eligible to receive the vaccine at Public Health Vaccination-Clinics, with Additional Community Vaccination Sites opening eligibility to this group beginning April 15.

The following groups are also currently eligible to receive a vaccine from Public Health Department Vaccination Clinics AND Additional Community Vaccination Site (pharmacies, healthcare providers):

• Community members 50+ years of age
• Phase 1A health care workers
• Education and childcare workers
• Emergency service workers
• Food and agriculture workers
• 16-49 years old with serious underlying medical conditions 

Appointment links:

• Public Health Department Vaccination Clinics
• Hospital, pharmacy, and primary care partners continue to serve all eligible groups
• Sign up for a vaccine appointment by registering online at the Public Health website or by calling 2-1-1 and pressing option 4 for assistance

The best vaccine is the one available to you right now. Almost 200,000 vaccinations have been administered in Santa Barbara County and more than 50% of our population age 65 and older are fully vaccinated. 20% of our population age 16 and above are fully vaccinated. Thank you for helping to do your part to #reCOVERgoleta.

For more information go to https://publichealthsbc.org/vaccine/. Sign up for vaccine email updates from Santa Barbara County here.

The Public Health Department is in need of bilingual (English/Spanish) volunteers at their Vaccination Clinics throughout Santa Barbara County. If you are interested, please send an email to margaret.fitzwilliamfigueroa@sbcphd.org.

Pictured: Mayor Perotte getting her first COVID-19 vaccine shot

In early April, FEMA will begin providing financial assistance for funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020 for deaths related to coronavirus (COVID-19) to help ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the pandemic. The policy was recently finalized, and FEMA is now moving rapidly to implement this funeral assistance program nationwide.

To be eligible for COVID-19 funeral assistance, the policy states:

• The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after Jan. 20, 2020 for a death attributed to COVID-19.
• If multiple individuals contributed toward funeral expenses, they should apply under a single application as applicant and co-applicant. FEMA will also consider documentation from other individuals not listed as the applicant and co-applicant who may have incurred funeral expenses as part of the registration for the deceased individual.
• An applicant may apply for multiple deceased individuals.
• The COVID-19-related death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.
• This assistance is limited to a maximum financial amount of $9,000 per funeral and a maximum of $35,500 per application.
• Funeral assistance is intended to assist with expenses for funeral services and interment or cremation.

In the coming weeks, a dedicated 800 number will be established to help individuals who apply. In the meantime, potential applicants are encouraged to start gathering the following documentation:

• An official death certificate that attributes the death to COVID-19 and shows that the death occurred in the U. S. The death certificate must indicate the death “may have been caused by” or “was likely the result of” COVID-19 or COVID-19 like symptoms. Similar phrases that indicate a high likelihood of COVID-19 are considered sufficient
• Funeral expense documents (receipts, funeral home contract, etc.) that include the applicant’s name, the deceased individual’s name, the amount of funeral expenses, and the dates the funeral expenses were incurred.
• Proof of funds received from other sources specifically for use toward funeral costs. Funeral assistance may not duplicate benefits received from burial or funeral insurance, financial assistance received from voluntary agencies, federal/state/local/tribal/territorial government programs or agencies, or other sources.

More information regarding this assistance can be found at www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra issued an alert warning consumers about some healthcare providers reportedly charging patients a COVID FEE when seeking care. A COVID FEE is an additional charge, purportedly for more frequent cleaning and disinfecting, and greater use of Personal Protective Equipment, also known as “PPE,” during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Medi-Cal: Those enrolled in Medi-Cal and Denti-Cal are not allowed to be charged a COVID FEE. If you have Medi-Cal or Denti-Cal, alert your doctor’s or dentist’s office that they may not charge a COVID FEE to Medi-Cal or Denti-Cal patients.

If you are being charged a COVID FEE please call the California Department of Health Care Services Medi-Cal Member and Provider Helpline at 1-800-541-5555 to report it or to ask questions about the fee.

Medicare: Those enrolled in Medicare may not be charged a COVID FEE. If you are being charged a COVID FEE please call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE to report it or ask questions about the fee.

Private Insurance: If you have private insurance, you have the right to ask your provider why you are being charged a COVID FEE and what the COVID FEE covers. You also have the right to ask your insurer if your provider can charge you the fee under your insurance plan rules. You should also alert the California Department of Managed Health Care at 1-888-466-2219 or visit their website at https://www.dmhc.ca.gov/fileacomplaint.aspx. You can also contact the California Department of Insurance at https://www.isurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/101-help/ or at 1-800-927-4357.

Tricare: Patients enrolled in Tricare may not be charged a COVID FEE at in-network providers. It may only be appropriate to charge a COVID FEE to a Tricare member when: (1) the patient does not inform the provider ahead of time that they have Tricare, and (2) the provider sends a written notice about a COVID FEE to the patient before an appointment. For more information please visit https://www.tricare.mil/ContactUs/ReportFraudAbuse.

We encourage you to take the following steps if you have already been charged a COVID FEE by your doctor or dentist:

• Contact your health or dental insurance company and request a reimbursement.
• If you are a Medi-Cal, Denti-Cal, Tricare or Medicare Dual-Eligible patient and you have been charged a COVID FEE, please file a complaint at ‪www.oag.ca.gov/report and report which healthcare provider charged you a COVID FEE, as well as the name of your dental or health insurance company.

Read the full press release here.