Department of Health and Human Services Expands Provider Relief to Additional Provider Types and Extends Deadline to November 6, 2020
October 28, 2020 - The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the latest Provider Relief Fund (PRF) application period has been expanded to include provider applicants such as residential treatment facilities, chiropractors, behavioral health, and eye and vision providers that have not yet received provider relief fund distributions. These providers and all Phase 3 applicants will have until 11:59PM EST on November 6, 2020 to submit their applications for payment consideration.
Latest cost-sharing, coding, and billing guidelines for COVID-19 specimen collection and testing: HMO and PPO commercial plan members
October 13, 2020 – Blue Shield of California wants to give you the information you need for submitting COVID-19 testing claims that will help us process them accurately and efficiently.
See the latest recommendations concerning specimen collection and various types of testing for fully insured commercial HMO and PPO plan members and self-funded plan members. Get helpful details about claims for testing essential workers as they are defined by the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC), in our Cost-sharing, coding, and billing section of this website.
Review coding and billing recommendations (PDF, 123KB)
Medi-Cal and Medicare Providers Encouraged to Apply for Health and Human Services Provider Relief Funds
August 5, 2020 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a second extension to the application deadline for the Phase One general distribution of funds to help relieve impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds are available to eligible Medicaid managed care providers and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) providers.
HHS also announced that starting on August 10, 2020 HHS will allow Medicare providers who missed the opportunity for earlier distributions to apply for additional funding from the $20 billion portion of the $50 billion Phase One Medicare General Distribution. This reopened application period will last from August 10 to August 28, 2020.
For more information, please visit www.HHS.gov/providerrelief
Blue Shield of California extends copayment, coinsurance and deductible waivers for COVID-19 treatment through December 31, 2020
August 4, 2020 - Blue Shield of California will continue waiving copayments, coinsurance and deductible requirements for COVID-19 treatment for members who are covered under fully insured commercial HMO and PPO plans, and Medicare Advantage plans through December 31, 2020. These cost-sharing waivers also apply to members enrolled in self-funded or flex-funded plans administered by Blue Shield if the plan sponsor has elected to participate in the waiver. Cost-sharing for medical services is not applicable to Medi-Cal and Cal MediConnect plans.
Separately, Blue Shield continues to cover COVID-19 screening and testing in accordance with applicable state and federal law, throughout the declared COVID-19 public health emergency. That includes waiving cost-sharing for diagnostic testing and related screening services provided to individuals with symptoms or known or suspected exposure to COVID-19.
Visit our news center to read about other ways Blue Shield is helping to provide financial relief to members and providers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Visit Blue Shield’s News Center