The Department of Health and Human Services recently extended the COVID-19 public health emergency until October 18, 2021. This means that the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) requirement that health plans pay for COVID-19 testing (including antibody testing and testing conducted prior to travel) without member cost-sharing or medical management will continue until that date.If you’re a MedBen client, no additional action is required on your part. The amendments we put in place anticipated this and no further amendments need to be adopted to meet this requirement.
The testing coverage requirement will remain in place as long as the public health emergency remains in place. (Please note that this time frame is different than the National Health Emergency enacted by President Trump, which governs the health plan extension deadline rules that apply to member-related rights, such as claims filing, special enrollment, COBRA election, appeals, etc.)
If you have any questions, please contact Caroline Fraker or Erin Kelly in the MedBen Compliance Department.