Humana to Offer LabCorp At-Home COVID-19 Test Collection & Collaborate with Walmart & Quest Diagnostics to Offer Drive-Thru T...
June 30 2020 - 8:30AM
Business Wire
Becomes first insurer to provide LabCorp Home
Test-Collection Kits to members, and first to offer drive-thru
testing for members at Walmart locations
Leading health and well-being company Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM)
announced a pilot home-testing program today that will enable
at-home COVID-19 test collection for members, making Humana the
first insurer to offer LabCorp’s at-home test-collection
kits. Humana also announced an innovative new collaboration with
Walmart and Quest Diagnostics to help members more
easily get tested – becoming the first health care company to offer
its members drive-thru testing at hundreds of Walmart Neighborhood
Market drive-thru pharmacy locations across the country. Humana
will continue to waive member costs related to COVID-19 diagnostic
tests.
“Our members continue to be worried about COVID-19 – including
the anxiety about possibly having it and not knowing it,” said Mona
Siddiqui, Humana Senior Vice President of Clinical Strategy and
Quality. “We want to help alleviate that stress. This is an
additional step we can take to help address their concerns –
whether testing from the safety of their own home or using the
drive-thru option.”
To create a seamless experience for members, Humana has
developed a coronavirus risk-assessment tool – at
Humana.com/coronavirus. The tool is based on CDC guidelines.
Members who have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection, or
those without symptoms who may be been exposed to the virus qualify
for testing – and will be given the option to request an in-home
test or drive-thru testing. This is part of Humana’s ongoing effort
to meet members where they are, and ensure that they have a wide
range of options and choices for COVID-19 diagnostic testing.
Humana members with Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement,
Medicaid, or Employer Group plans through Humana* are eligible for
the tests, with Humana waiving member costs for the tests.
For members who need a test and prefer at-home testing, Humana is making available
LabCorp’s COVID-19 at-home collection test kit – for members who
have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection and those without
symptoms who may have been exposed to the virus. The test is
available through LabCorp’s Pixel by LabCorp™ online platform. The
test kit is physician-authorized and enables individuals to
self-collect nasal swab specimens at home.
“Testing is a critical component in helping to control the
spread of COVID-19 and LabCorp is proud to make our high-quality
at-home collection kit even more accessible to Humana’s
membership,” said Brian Caveney, M.D., Chief Medical Officer and
President of LabCorp Diagnostics. “Our at-home collection kit, the
first to receive emergency use authorization from the FDA, is
another example of how we are making testing easier, faster and
more readily available to people who need to be tested.”
For members who prefer a drive-thru
test, Humana is teaming up with Walmart, Quest
Diagnostics and PWNHealth. Walmart plans to offer the drive-thru
testing option at hundreds of Neighborhood Markets, using the
pharmacy drive-thru windows, and Humana members will be able to
access these locations for pharmacist-observed testing. Several of
these sites are already available for testing and additional sites
will be added between now and August. (Humana is currently
exploring ways to provide transportation to drive-thru test
locations for members who need a ride.)
People being tested will receive a testing kit from the
pharmacist through the drive-thru window tray. The pharmacist will
observe as they swab themselves, then the individual will properly
seal the swab in a container and plastic bag and drop their sample
at a drop box as they pull out. Quest will pick up the samples for
testing. Pharmacists will be behind the drive-thru window at all
times while patients are collecting samples, and no testing samples
will enter the pharmacy.
“Our goal has always been to help bring COVID-19 testing access
to as many communities as we can during this unprecedented time,”
said Thomas Van Gilder, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Walmart.
“We’re pleased to work with Quest Diagnostics to bring testing
access to Humana members and others at our Neighborhood Market
pharmacy drive-thru windows, creating a convenient way for Humana
members to be tested and protect themselves, their families and
their communities.”
“We’re proud to team up with Humana and Walmart to make it
convenient and easy for Humana members to get the critical COVID-19
testing services they need,” said Jay G. Wohlgemuth, M.D., Senior
Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Quest Diagnostics. “Our
lab insights will help foster safer and healthy environments as our
nation begins to reopen our economy.”
Today’s announcement is part of an ongoing program to support
Humana members during this public health emergency, including:
- Eliminating out-of-pocket costs for office visits so that
members can reconnect with their healthcare providers. Humana
is waiving in-network primary care costs, not only for COVID-19
costs, but all primary care visits for the rest of 2020. In
addition, the company is waiving member costs for non-facility
based outpatient behavioral health visits through the end of year.
Behavioral health issues, like depression, may be exacerbated
because of the pandemic and are important to flag and treat.
- Waiving consumer costs for treatment and diagnostic testing
related to COVID-19-covered services, including inpatient
hospital admissions for enrollees of Medicare Advantage plans,
fully insured commercial members, Medicare Supplement and
Medicaid.
- Extending telehealth cost share waivers for all telehealth
visits – primary care and specialty, including behavioral
health, for in-network providers through 2020. By eliminating these
costs, Humana is supporting members to re-engage with their
physician for pressing primary care and behavioral health needs
whether in-person or virtually, depending on their personal
situation.
- Providing safety kits to support visits to healthcare
providers. For members who need to access the healthcare system
or other essential services in the community, Humana wants them to
be as safe as possible. To assist in this effort, the company has
been proactively sending safety kits to members’ homes, including
masks and health-advice information, to support their ability to
seek care.
- Engaging more than 2,000 Humana nurses and other staff
members who are making daily outreach calls to members,
coordinating care for their clinical and behavioral health needs
and screening for social determinants of health. They are
connecting members with food, including prepared meals, offering a
friendly voice on the phone to combat loneliness, helping to secure
prescription refills, and solving routine medical issues to help
avoid an unnecessary trip to the doctor or ER.
*Members with only Medicare PDP coverage, standalone Vision or
standalone Dental, and Humana TRICARE beneficiaries do not qualify
for this program.
About Humana
Humana Inc. is committed to helping our millions of medical and
specialty members achieve their best health. Our successful history
in care delivery and health plan administration is helping us
create a new kind of integrated care with the power to improve
health and well-being and lower costs. Our efforts are leading to a
better quality of life for people with Medicare, families,
individuals, military service personnel, and communities at
large.
To accomplish that, we support physicians and other health care
professionals as they work to deliver the right care in the right
place for their patients, our members. Our range of clinical
capabilities, resources and tools – such as in-home care,
behavioral health, pharmacy services, data analytics and wellness
solutions – combine to produce a simplified experience that makes
health care easier to navigate and more effective.
More information regarding Humana is available to investors via
the Investor Relations page of the company’s web site at
www.humana.com, including copies of:
- Annual reports to stockholders
- Securities and Exchange Commission filings
- Most recent investor conference presentations
- Quarterly earnings news releases and conference calls
- Calendar of events
- Corporate Governance information
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200630005129/en/
Jim Turner Humana Corporate Communications 502-608-2897
jturner2@humana.com
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