As many of you now know, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act requires that group health plans cover telehealth office visits related to the ordering of a COVID-19 test for a covered employee or dependent. Given the current “stay-at-home” and “social distancing” environment, many patients and their providers are asking to conduct their visits over the telephone or via teleconference, if possible.
Telehealth services include office visits, psychotherapy, consultations, and certain other medical or health services that are provided by an eligible health care provider. Services can include diagnostic evaluation and the prescribing of medication. Due to the novel coronavirus COVID-19, doctors and other health care providers can use telehealth services to treat COVID-19 (and for other medically reasonable purposes) from offices, hospitals, and places of residence (like homes, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities).
If your plan does not currently cover telehealth services, you may want to consider adding non-COVID-19 related telehealth coverage, even if only during this current health crisis. Please contact your Account Management team for more information.