Update: Extensions on Telehealth Cost-Sharing and COVID-19 Treatment Coverage

May 20, 2020

We are closely monitoring activity around COVID-19 and are committed to helping our employer customers and members stay informed. We’re extending some of our relevant benefit dates. See our April 29, 2020 article for previous extension dates. As always, members should call the number on their ID card for answers to their specific benefit questions. 

Benefit	Effective Date	Projected End Date
COVID-19 Testing	3/7/20	Cost-share waiver ends with the end of HHS public health emergency
COVID-19 Testing-related Visits	3/18/20	Cost-share waiver ends with the end of HHS public health emergency
Telehealth Cost-sharing***	3/18/20	Cost-share waiver ends 6/30/20*
COVID-19 Treatment	4/1/20	Cost-share waiver ends 6/30/20*
Interfacility Transfer	4/1/20	5/15/20
Prior Authorization extended on previously approved elective surgeries, procedures, therapies and behavioral health services**	Services scheduled between 1/1/20 and 6/30/20	12/31/20
Chest CT Scan	3/2/20	End of HHS public health emergency

*Date change/extension
**Behavioral Health services included in this extension
***Effective March 10, 2020, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) began covering telehealth “virtual” visits with in-network Illinois providers for eligible BCBSIL PPO and Blue Choice members consistent with the terms of the member’s benefit plan. This telehealth benefit option is currently available through Dec. 31, 2020.

Extensions on Telehealth Cost-sharing and COVID-19 Treatment Coverage: As we let you know on April 29, self-funded customer (ASO) decisions will be extended as BCBSIL makes extensions for fully insured members. An ASO account’s prior decision will remain in place unless the group requests a change from its account executive.

If your ASO clients would like to make a change from their original decision, please contact your account executive no later than Wednesday, May 20. If you don’t communicate that change by May 20, your client’s decision will continue as currently coded. Change decisions made after May 20 cannot be accommodated for a June 1 effective date.

As a reminder, COVID-19 testing and testing-related visits are covered at no cost-share for fully insured and ASO members as required by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act until the end of the federal public health emergency.