Florida health insurers gets direction on coronavirus
TALLAHASSEE - Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier on Friday sent a memo to health insurers advising them to consider “all practical options to reduce the barriers of cost-sharing for testing and treatment” of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19.
“Consumers may seek a variety of forms of healthcare in connection with COVID-19, including, but not limited to, physician office visits, laboratory testing, urgent care services, and emergency services,” Altmaier said in the memo. “It is important to remove actual or perceived barriers to testing for COVID-19. Consumers could be reluctant to seek testing or treatment due to other anticipated costs.”
The Office of Insurance Regulation said the memo went to 311 insurance companies. The memo came after AARP Florida State Director Jeff Johnson requested that the Legislature provide funding to offset costs of testing for the virus.
“Florida government’s highest duty is to protect its residents,” Johnson said in a statement. “As the Legislature considers appropriate steps to prevent the spread of this illness in our state, more funding for testing makes sense.”
RELATED: State: 2 deaths related to coronavirus confirmed in Florida
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Sunday issued a public-health emergency as COVID-19 cases began emerging in Florida. Two people in the state have died.
The number of Florida-related coronavirus cases has steadily increased, after initial announcements last weekend. The Department of Health website listed 12 positive cases, with six involving Florida residents in the state, five involving residents out of the state and one non-resident who is in the state.
The state also had 88 pending test results, and 278 people were being monitored, the Department of Health website said late Friday. Another 100 tests had been negative.
Meanwhile the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Thursday released what it described as COVID-19 “fact sheets” that address Medicare and Medicaid coverage for diagnostic laboratory tests, immunizations and vaccines, telemedicine, drugs and cost-sharing policies.
The agency also released a fact sheet for individual and group-insurance policies. That included encouraging people to check with their “health insurance company to determine coverage for physician and hospital related services for the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19. Standard cost sharing may apply for these services.”