Anthem Issues Updates Regarding COVID-19 Testing and Care to Support Affiliated Health Plan Members
March 17 2020 - 7:00AM
Business Wire
Company developing COVID-19 assessment
capabilities through Sydney Care mobile app
Today, Anthem’s affiliated health plans announced additional
updates and resources that can help provide increased access to
care, while eliminating costs and helping alleviate the added
stress on individuals, families and the nation’s healthcare system.
These actions are intended to support the protective measures taken
across the country to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and are
central to the commitment of Anthem’s affiliated health plans to
remove barriers to care for their members and support communities
through this unprecedented time.
“Anthem is committed to ensuring a more affordable and effective
healthcare experience for the people we serve. Today’s actions
provide greater access to testing, as well as enhanced care
assessments via our innovative technologies,” said Anthem President
and CEO Gail K. Boudreaux. “These efforts are simply one more way
we are working to meet the needs of consumers safely and
efficiently.”
Today Anthem is announcing the following updates for members of
its affiliated health plans:
- Access to Virtual Care and Development of a Coronavirus
Assessment via Anthem’s Sydney Care Mobile App: Anthem is
working to accelerate the availability of a Coronavirus Assessment
on the Sydney Care mobile app, which members can download at no
cost. The Coronavirus Assessment is designed based on guidelines
from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and
National Institutes of Health (NIH) to help individuals quickly and
safely evaluate their symptoms and assess their risk of having
COVID-19. Inputs provided by individual users include symptoms,
recent travel and potential contact with anyone with the disease.
Based on the results, Anthem members will be able to connect
directly to a board-certified doctor via text or secure two-way
video via the Sydney Care app who can then recommend care options.
Sydney Care is available for Anthem members to download now on
Android or iOS. This app should accompany their Sydney Health or
Engage benefits app. Coronavirus Assessment functionality is in
development and expected to be available within the next week.
Additionally, effective immediately, Anthem’s affiliated health
plans will implement the following changes:
- Access to Testing and Medical Care: Anthem’s affiliated
health plans will continue to waive copays, coinsurance and
deductibles for the diagnostic test related to COVID-19. In
addition, this will be extended to include waiver of copays,
coinsurance, and deductibles for visits associated with in-network
COVID-19 testing, whether the care is received in a physician’s
office, an urgent care center or an emergency department.
- Access to Medication: Anthem is relaxing early
prescription refill limits for members who wish to receive a 30-day
supply of most maintenance medications, where permissible.
Additionally, Anthem continues to encourage health plan members who
have a pharmacy plan that includes a 90-day benefit, to talk to
their doctor about whether changing from a 30-day supply to a
90-day supply, of any prescription medicines they take on a regular
basis, is appropriate. Members filling 90-day prescriptions can
obtain their medications through our home delivery pharmacy and, in
some circumstances, select retail pharmacies. Members can call the
pharmacy services number on the back of their health plan ID card
to learn more.
- Access to Virtual Care: For 90 days, Anthem’s affiliated
health plans will waive any member cost share for telehealth
visits, including visits for mental health, for our fully insured
employer plans, Individual plans, Medicare plans and Medicaid
plans, where permissible. Cost sharing will be waived for members
using Anthem’s telemedicine service, LiveHealth Online, as well as
care received from other telehealth providers delivering virtual
care. Access to LiveHealth Online as well as virtual care via text
is available to members through the Sydney Care app. Self-insured
plan sponsors will have the choice to participate in this program.
Anthem continues to recommend members use virtual care options when
possible, as it can help prevent spread of coronavirus and improve
access to care. Virtual care is a safe and effective way for
members to see a doctor to receive health guidance related to
COVID-19 from their homes via smart phone, tablet or computer.
As Anthem continues to closely monitor the COVID-19
developments, we remain committed to all of those we serve. Anthem
customers can rest assured that we are taking steps to ensure our
operations remain uninterrupted, while ensuring the health and
safety of our associates. We are employing social distancing
strategies, using teleconference and video conferencing
capabilities whenever possible and encouraging work at home where
appropriate. Additionally, associates who work in clinical settings
and are providing direct care to our members are receiving
appropriate guidelines and implementing protocol measures to help
minimize risk of exposure when caring for possible COVID-19
patients.
Additionally, through the efforts of its philanthropic arm,
Anthem Foundation, Anthem continues to provide funding to support
organizations that are on the forefront and working to meet the
needs of our communities such as the Red Cross, Direct Relief,
Americares and Feeding America. As communities across the country
see their schools close, Anthem Foundation is working to redirect
up to $2 million in grant funding to local Boys and Girls Clubs to
help distribute meals to children and families in need. In
addition, as active members of their communities, our associates
are helping to amplify the efforts of these organizations with the
help of the Anthem Foundation’s program, which provides a 100%
match to associates who donate to these nonprofit partners.
About Anthem, Inc.
Anthem is a leading health benefits company dedicated to
improving lives and communities, and making healthcare simpler.
Through its affiliated companies, Anthem serves more than 79
million people, including 41 million within its family of health
plans. We aim to be the most innovative, valuable and inclusive
partner. For more information, please visit www.antheminc.com or
follow @AnthemInc on Twitter.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200317005336/en/
Media: Jill Becher Jill.Becher@anthem.com
Investor Relations: Chris Rigg Chris.Rigg@anthem.com
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