Humana Takes Steps to Care for Members in Response to Coronavirus
March 09 2020 - 3:47PM
Business Wire
Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) announced today several actions in
response to the increased spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
“As we navigate the spread of the coronavirus, our top priority
is the health and well-being of our members,” said William Shrank,
M.D., chief medical officer, Humana. “Effective immediately, we are
waiving the out-of-pocket costs associated with COVID-19 testing
and increasing the availability of telemedicine options to reduce
additional exposure. We are also implementing some important
actions such as early refills of prescription medicines and
connecting people with a reassuring voice on the phone.”
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control &
Prevention (CDC), older adults and people with multiple chronic
conditions are at higher risk for more symptomatic disease. Many of
Humana’s Medicare Advantage members are living with multiple
chronic conditions, which potentially puts them at a greater
risk.
Humana will waive out-of-pocket costs associated with testing
for COVID-19 for patients who meet CDC guidelines at approved
laboratory locations. This will apply to Humana’s Medicare
Advantage, Medicaid and commercial employer-sponsored plans.
Self-insured plan sponsors will be able to opt-out of the program
at their discretion. The CDC continues to offer free testing for
coronavirus.
The company is also announcing the following resources for its
members:
- Telemedicine costs waived for all urgent care needs for next
90 days – To help reduce the risk of infection and spread of
disease, Humana is encouraging members to use telemedicine (e.g.,
video chat) as a first line of defense for all urgent care needs.
The company will waive costs for telemedicine visits for urgent
care needs for the next 90 days. This will apply to Humana’s
Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and commercial employer-sponsored
plans and is limited to in-network providers delivering synchronous
virtual care (live video-conferencing). Self-insured plan sponsors
will be able to opt-out of the program at their discretion. Humana
is working closely with federal agencies to understand the impacts
of both telemedicine and the coronavirus test on High Deductible
Health Plans and Health Savings Accounts.
- Early prescription refills allowed for next 30 days –
The company is allowing early refills on prescription medicines so
members can prepare for extended supply needs—an extra 30- or
90-day supply as appropriate.
- Member support line available – Humana has trained a
specialized group of call center employees to help support members
with specific coronavirus questions and concerns, including live
assistance with telemedicine. Members can call Humana’s toll-free
customer support line, which can be found on the back of their
member I.D. card, to be connected to this dedicated team of
professionals.
“Our goal through these actions is to give members additional
peace of mind. We will continue to listen to their feedback and
explore ways we can support their health through innovative
solutions, technology and personalized support,” said Dr. Shrank.
“We’re also committed to working with state and federal
policymakers on creative options, such as in-home testing, that
will best support members.”
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
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200309005808/en/
Mark Mathis Humana Corporate Communications (312) 441-5010
mmathis@humana.com
Amy Smith Humana Investor Relations (502) 580-2811
amysmith@humana.com
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