Continuation of Flexibility in Efforts to Treat and Restrict the Spread of COVID-19
On December 29, 2020, Commissioner Anderson issued Bulleting 2020-31, extending the protections offered in several bulletins addressing the COVID-19 crisis. Specifically, this bulletin reminds insurance carriers that the state of emergency continues that they should take special care to ensure that they are still operating in a manner that is consistent with these bulletins:
- Bulletin 2020-02 – Addressing COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Testing and Treatment
- Bulletin 2020-04 – Emergency Measures to Address and Stop the Spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
- Bulletin 2020-06 – Administration of Prescription Drug Benefits During COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Public Health Crisis
- Bulletin 2020-07 – Making Consumer Information Available During the COVID-19 Crisis
- Bulletin 2020-10 – Credentialing and Prior Authorization During COVID-19 Health Crisis
- Bulletin 2020-13 – Coverage for COVID-19 Treatment and Out-of-Network Emergency and Inpatient Reimbursement During the COVID-19 Health Crisis
- Bulletin 2020-15 – Relaxing Certain Health Plan Administrative Procedures During the COVID-19 Health Emergency
- Bulletin 2020-16 – COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Testing
- Bulletin 2020-21 – Continued Relaxation of Prior Authorization in Response to the COVID-19 Health Emergency
- Bulletin 2020-23 – Updated Guidance for COVID-19 PCR and Antigen Testing
- Bulletin 2020-25 – Easing Administrative Billing for PCR and Antigen Testing
- Bulletin 2020-28 – Continued Relaxation of Certain Administrative Procedures in Response to the COVID-19 Health Emergency
The division also clarified that they now intend for carriers to ease administrative processes (as outlined in Bulletin 2020-21) through at least March 31, 2021, in order to allow hospitals to devote their resources to treatment of COVID-19 patients.
Although this guidance is directed towards insurance carriers, employers based in Massachusetts should familiarize themselves with this guidance as they continue to contend with participants being affected by COVID-19.
Bulletin 2020-31 »