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As the illness caused by COVID-19 continues to spread, many are concerned about the possible impact to themselves and their families. Blue Cross has taken the following steps to ensure our members have access to the right care during this challenging time.
- Waiving prior authorizations for diagnostic tests and covered services that are medically necessary and consistent with CDC guidance for members diagnosed with COVID-19.
- Covering medically necessary diagnostic tests that are consistent with CDC guidance related to COVID-19 at no cost to our members with fully insured individual, employer-based, Federal Employee Program, and Medicare Advantage plans. For self-funded employer plans, members’ cost share for diagnostic tests will be based on their benefit plan.
- Increasing access to prescription medications by waiving early medication refill limits on prescriptions and encouraging members to use their 90-day retail or mail order benefit.
- Expanding access to telehealth and nurse/provider hotlines. Given the nature of the COVID-19 outbreak, seeking in-person medical care may lead to further spreading of the virus.
- Dedicating staff to be specifically available to address inquiries related to medical services, ensuring timely responses related to COVID-19.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama is closely monitoring the situation and has contingency plans in place to ensure business operations continue to run smoothly:
- Continuing to process claims electronically. 99% of claims are process electronically, and we do not anticipate disruption to claims processing.
- Expanding our telework capabilities to cover nearly 100% of our workforce over the next 2-4 weeks to maintain staffing of critical business areas.
If members have questions, they can call the customer service number located on the back of their ID card. For the latest on COVID-19 developments, please visit the CDC’s website."
