Departments Issue FAQs Clarifying COVID-19 Coverage & Payment Requirements
Published: 03.30.2023
FAQs Clarifying COVID-19 Coverage and Payment Requirements Under FFCRA and CARES Act Due to PHE EndingOn March 29, 2023, the Departments issued FAQs to clarify how the COVID-19 coverage and payment requirements under the FFCRA and CARES Act will change when the PHE ends. Specifically, plans and issuers are not required to provide coverage for items and services related to diagnostic testing for COVID-19 that are furnished after the end of the PHE, and if they provide such coverage, they may impose cost-sharing requirements, prior authorization, or other medical management requirements for such items and services.
8 Q&As covering:
- COVID-19 diagnostic testing;
- Rapid coverage of preventive services and vaccines for coronavirus;
- Extension of certain timeframes for employee benefit plans subject to ERISA and the Code, participants, and beneficiaries affected by the COVID-19 outbreak;
- Special enrollment in group health plan and group or individual health insurance coverage after loss of eligibility for Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage or after becoming eligible for premium assistance under Medicaid or CHIP;
- Benefits for COVID-19 testing and treatment and health savings accounts (HSAs)/high deductible health plans (HDHPs).
