Humana Inc. announced expanded availability of telehealth services for its members to help reduce exposure risk from the continued spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. The move builds on previous measures the company has taken in response to the global pandemic, including removing barriers to coronavirus testing, offering early prescription refills and expanding coverage of telehealth visits for urgent care.
“We serve many older adults and people with multiple chronic conditions who are at greater risk from the new virus,” said William Shrank, M.D., chief medical officer, Humana. “We also recognize that social distancing can be an effective strategy to slow the spread of COVID-19, and some states have ordered residents to shelter in place. For these reasons, we’re encouraging our members to take advantage of telehealth whenever possible, and we’ve updated our policies to make telehealth services easily accessible and affordable.”
Humana’s actions are designed to meet or exceed guidance from regulatory agencies at the state and federal levels, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Effective immediately, Humana has put in place the following telehealth-related provisions, which apply to its Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and commercial employer-sponsored plans, including self-insured plans:
· Temporary expansion of member cost share waivers for telehealth – To encourage members to seek care safely while protecting the health care workforce, Humana is waiving member cost share for all telehealth services delivered by participating/in-network providers, including telehealth services delivered through MDLive to Medicare Advantage members and to commercial members in Puerto Rico, as well as all telehealth services delivered through Doctor on Demand to commercial members.
· Temporary expansion of telehealth service scope and reimbursement rules – To ease systemic burdens arising from COVID-19 and support shelter-in-place orders, Humana is facilitating telehealth visits for its members. Humana will temporarily reimburse for telehealth visits with participating/in-network providers at the same rate as in-office visits. To qualify for reimbursement, telehealth visits must meet medical necessity criteria, as well as all applicable coverage guidelines.
· Temporary expansion of telehealth channels – Humana understands that not all telehealth services will involve the use of both video and audio. For health care providers or members who don’t have access to secure video systems, Humana will temporarily accept audio-only telephone visits, which can be submitted and reimbursed as telehealth visits.
· Multiple practitioner types can deliver telehealth services – Both participating/in-network primary care and specialty providers can deliver care using telehealth services, provided that CMS and state-specific guidelines are followed. This includes behavioral health services. For telehealth visits with a specialist, members are encouraged to work with their primary care physician to facilitate care coordination.
Humana’s announcement on telehealth follows earlier measures taken by the company, including: Waiving the out-of-pocket costs (copays, coinsurance and deductibles) associated with COVID-19 testing, including related visit costs in a range of clinical settings such as a physician’s office, urgent care center or emergency department; allowing early prescription refills, so members can prepare for extended supply needs – an extra 30- or 90-day supply as appropriate; and providing a member support line with specially trained call center employees to help support members with specific coronavirus questions and concerns, including live assistance with telehealth.
