Thursday Thoughts

David Ermer–COVID-19, Federal employment benefits, Medicare, Rx coverage–

Fedweek reports that

The largest FEHB carrier, Blue Cross-Blue Shield, has loosened several policies, for those diagnosed with COVID-19, the respiratory condition caused by the COVID-19 virus including waiving:

prior authorization requirements for diagnostic tests and for covered services that are “medically necessary and consistent with CDC guidance”;

any copays or deductibles for diagnostic tests or treatment under that same standard;

early medication refill limits on 30-day prescription maintenance medications and cost sharing for prescriptions for up to a 14-day supply; and

copays for telehealth services related to COVID-19.

The FEHBlog was pleased to see that FEP is waiving telehealth cost sharing related to COVID-19. OPM’s carrier letter mentioned in yesterday’s post overlooked telehealth which is an important tool to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. If your plan offers a telehealth benefit, it is important to pre-register for that benefit before you need to use it. The FEHBlog found his plan’s pre-registration program to be quite efficient.

You will find that FEHBP plans prominently have links to their special COVID-19 coverage features on their websites.

The Wall Street Journal has put its helpful COVID-19 update website outside its general website paywall.

In other news,

  • The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced earlier this week “the Part D Senior Savings Model, a voluntary model that enables participating Part D enhanced plans to lower Medicare beneficiaries’ out-of-pocket costs for insulin to a maximum $35 copay per thirty-day supply throughout the benefit year. Beneficiaries who take insulin and enroll in a plan participating in the model should save an average of $446 in annual out-of-pocket costs for insulin, or over 66 percent, relative to their average cost-sharing for insulin today.” This program will launch next year. Time will tell whether the prescription benefit plan can extend this discount to FEHBP and other commercial health plans.
  • The National Cancer Institute released the Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer. The report presents good news
    • Overall cancer incidence rates are leveling off among males and increasing slightly among females.These trends reflect population changes in cancer risk factors, screening test use, diagnostic practices, and treatment advances. 
    • This year’s Special Section focused on progress toward select Healthy People 2020 objectives related to four common cancers (lung, colorectal, female breast, and prostate). The Healthy People 2020 target death rate (161.4 deaths per 100,000 persons) for all cancers combined was met overall and in most sociodemographic groups.
    • During 2007-2017, cancer death rates decreased 15% overall, and the percent improvement target (-10%) was met in many sociodemographic groups.
    • Many of the Healthy People 2020 objectives for death rates, cancer screening, and major risk factors related to lung, colorectal, female breast, and prostate cancer were met.
  • Becker’s Hospital Review provides an overview of seven key dates of the HHS interoperability rule released earlier this week.
  • Healthcare Dive discusses the five additional healthcare apps that CVS/caremark has added to its curated app “formulary” for the benefit of plan sponsors. “Livongo Health, Hinge Health, Hello Heart, Torchlight and Whil are now available for CVS’ PBM clients to use, in addition to Sleepio, a personalized digital sleep program and the first participating program when the service launched in 2019.”