Covid-19 Updates for Providers

COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE)

*From The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

Based on current COVID-19 trends, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is planning for the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19, declared under Section 319 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, to expire at the end of the day on May 11, 2023. Our response to the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, remains a public health priority, but thanks to the administration’s whole-of-government approach to combatting the virus, we are in a better place in our response than we were three years ago, and we can transition away from the emergency phase.

Over the last two years, the Biden Administration has effectively implemented the largest adult vaccination program in U.S. history, with nearly 270 million Americans receiving at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine.

We have come to this point in our fight against the virus because of our historic investments and our efforts to mitigate its worst impacts. Addressing COVID-19 remains a significant public health priority for the Administration, and over the next few months we will transition our COVID-19 policies, as well as the current flexibilities enabled by the COVID-19 emergency declarations, into improving standards of care for patients. We will work closely with partners, including state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies, industry, and advocates, to ensure an orderly transition.

*U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023). COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE)
Retrieved from: COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) | HHS.gov

Please see the link below for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services “Fact Sheet: COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Transition Roadmap”.

Fact Sheet: COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Transition Roadmap | HHS.gov

See below for provider updates as of May 4, 2023

Aetna

The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) ends at midnight on May 11, 2023, Aetna will revert to standard policies and plan benefits with a few exceptions. Click link below for detailed information regarding this policy:

COVID-19 Provider Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (aetna.com)

AmeriHealth

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, AmeriHealth HMO, Inc. (AmeriHealth Pennsylvania) in Pennsylvania, and AmeriHealth HMO, Inc. and AmeriHealth Insurance Company of New Jersey (collectively, AmeriHealth New Jersey) in New Jersey have remained committed to helping members access the care they need.

Now that the Public Health Emergency (PHE) is set to end on May 11, 2023, AmeriHealth Pennsylvania and AmeriHealth New Jersey will be updating their policies. See the links below for more detailed information regarding the policy changes.

Public Health Emergency ends May 11: Updates on COVID-19 policy changes (amerihealth.com)

Cigna

Cigna plans to make the following changes on May 12, 2023:

Authorizations for facility-to-facility transfers will again be required.
Patient cost-share will apply to COVID-19 lab tests as well as antiviral and therapeutics approved by the U.S Food & Drug Administration (FDA).
For most benefit plans, COVID-19 vaccines will be covered at 100 percent under the preventive benefit (same as the flu shot) when customers go to an in-network provider.
Over-the-counter COVID-19 tests will no longer be covered.

Click link below for more information regarding this policy update.

CHCP – Resources – Cigna’s response to COVID-19