UnitedHealthcare Expands Access to Care, Support and Resources to Help People and Families Address COVID-19
March 18 2020 - 6:59PM
Business Wire
Company makes it easier for people to access
telehealth, virtual care and its personalized digital care
platform
UnitedHealthcare announced today several updates that provide
people and families expanded access to the care, support and
resources they need to navigate through this unprecedented time.
These actions will expand access to testing and medical care,
medication, telehealth services and virtual care including rollout
of an innovative, personalized digital platform which includes a
symptom checker to help members rapidly assess their risk for
COVID-19. The company is also expanding its efforts to engage those
people with the highest risk of contracting serious illness.
“In response to COVID-19 we are taking actions to support our
members by significantly expanding access to our telehealth,
virtual care and digital capabilities for patients and their health
care practitioners,” said Dirk McMahon, CEO of UnitedHealthcare.
“We are making every effort to protect the health of our members by
keeping them safe in their homes while still enabling them to get
the care they need.”
Access to Testing and Medical Care
UnitedHealthcare will continue to waive costs for COVID-19
testing provided at approved locations in accordance with the CDC
guidelines. In addition, we will waive copays, coinsurance and
deductibles for visits associated with COVID-19 testing, whether
the care is received in a physician’s office, an urgent care center
or an emergency department. This coverage applies to Medicare
Advantage and Medicaid members as well as our commercial
members.
Access to Medication
Eligible UnitedHealthcare and OptumRx members needing help
obtaining an early prescription refill can call the customer care
number located on their medical ID card for assistance.
Access to Telehealth
To increase system access and flexibility when it is needed
most, we are expanding our telehealth policies to make it easier
for people to connect with their healthcare provider. People will
have access to telehealth services in two ways:
- Designated Telehealth Partners - Members can
access their existing telehealth benefit offered through one of
UnitedHealthcare’s designated partners for free.
- Expanded Provider Telehealth Access - Effective
immediately, for the next 90 days, all eligible in-network medical
providers who have the ability and want to connect with their
patient through synchronous virtual care (live video-conferencing)
can do so. We will waive member cost sharing for COVID-19 related
visits.
Access to Virtual Care for Highest-Risk Members
- We are rapidly expanding access to our personalized digital
care platform to those who need it most, including our highest-risk
members. This interactive platform provides the most up-to-date
information about prevention, coverage, care and support needed to
rapidly assess symptoms, schedule an in person or a telehealth
visit with their provider, talk to a nurse, refill or schedule home
delivery for prescriptions, and to access emotional support 24
hours a day. We are also adding a symptom checker that can help
members review their symptoms quickly from the convenience of their
own home and then guide them to the appropriate services.
- We are deploying new technological solutions including a
home-based care management platform for our highest-risk
members.
- We have established a navigation support program for our
members who are under home isolation due to COVID-19 diagnosis or
exposure. This program will provide members with a dedicated
customer service professional to guide them through the isolation
process and help coordinate access to medications, supplies, food,
and appropriate care, as well as connecting them with any need
support programs that are available. Members can access the program
by calling the customer care number located on the back of their ID
card and indicating that their provider has prescribed
self-isolation. Members may also be referred to this program
through our Nurseline or HouseCalls programs.
About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people live healthier
lives and making the health system work better for everyone by
simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and
wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care
providers. In the United States, UnitedHealthcare offers the full
spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, and
Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with
more than 1.3 million physicians and care professionals, and 6,000
hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. The company also
provides health benefits and delivers care to people through owned
and operated health care facilities in South America.
UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group
(NYSE: UNH), a diversified health care company. For more
information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow @UHC
on Twitter.
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Matt Wiggin 860-702-6142 matthew_n_wiggin@uhc.com
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