​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​COVID-19 provider resources and articles

We continue to closely monitor the outbreak of COVID-19 and will publish resources and updates to assist you in providing care to our members, your patients.​ ​​

Public Health Emergency ends
National Public Health Emergency ends May 11: Updates on COVID-19 policy changes​​​

Provider Re​sources​

COVID-19 webpages

• Members​
  
• Providers
• Vaccine info

Administrative

• ​Temporary facility changes​

Policy information

• Commercial
• Medicare Advantage
  

Articles 

Our response to the crisis

• Independence response to coronavirus (COVID-19) (January 29, 2020)
• Update to the Independence response to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) (February 19, 2020)

Acute care prior authorization

• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Prior authorizations for acute care ​resume (March 31, 2022)

CHIP

• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Provider guidance for CHIP program members (April 3, 2020)
• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): PROMISe^TM ID requirement suspension (June 17, 2020)

Claim adjustments

• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Member cost-share claims processing for PCP, specialist, and behavioral health telemedicine services (October 1, 2021)
• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Member cost-share claims processing for testing and treatment (October 28, 2021)
• COVID-19: Suspension of timely filing requirements extended (August 17, 2022)

CMS beneficiary notice

• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): CMS beneficiary notice delivery options (April 10, 2020)

Credentialing procedures

• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Temporary credentialing procedures (May 6, 2020)

CRNP/PA requirements

• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): CRNP and PA direct supervision requirements (October 29, 2021)

CT chest imaging

• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Update to AIM guidelines to allow CT for diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia (December 2, 2020)
  

DME waiver

• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Certain DME requirements waived and clinical indication enforcement relaxed (April 27, 2021)

• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Certain DME requirements reinstated (July 1, 2021)

Drug program formulary updates

• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Independence drug program formulary updates (April 29, 2020)
  
  

​Ground ambulance transportation

• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Ground ambulance coverage for Medicare Advantage members (May 25, 2021)
  

MDPP

• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (June 21, 2021)
  

Pulse oximeters

• Help monitor COVID-19 patients at home with pulse oximeters (October 27, 2021)
  

Respiratory equipment

• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Coverage for respiratory equipment and related supplies (July 1, 2021)
  

Stress test

• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Pharmacologic nuclear stress testing (July 15, 2021)​
  

Telemedicine

• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Temporary claims processing code J3490 added to allow payment for primary care telemedicine visits​ (October 5, 2020)
• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Telemedicine services for Independence members (October 1, 2021)
• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Member cost-share claims processing for PCP, specialist, and behavioral health telemedicine services ​(October 1, 2021)

Testing and treatment

• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Billing and coding for testing ​(October 27, 2021)
• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Member cost-share claims processing for testing and treatment​ (October 28, 2021)
• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Infusion drug treatment (December 28, 2021)
  
• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Specimen collection by medical professionals (January 8, 2021)
• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Member coverage for testing (October 29, 2021)
• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Member coverage for treatment (October 29, 2021)
• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Urgent Care providers cost-share waiver ​(December 28, 2021)
  
• COVID-19 tests for public health screening and surveillance are not covered​ (March 1,​ 2023)​
  

• ​ ​COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Travel recommendations and precautions (July 1, 2020)
  

​Vaccines

• Adult vaccination initiative (BCBSA Open Bed Campaign)​ (January 19, 2021)
• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): How to become a vaccinator (March 30, 2021)
• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Vaccine coverage and reimbursement (January 4, 2022)
  
• Encourage flu vaccinations​ ​(September 25, 2020)
  
• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Vaccine information​ (November 10, 2021)
  
• COVID-19(Coronavirus):Non-traditional providers (March 10, 2021)
  
• Enroll to be part of the COVID-19 Vaccination Program (February 4, 2021)
• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Vaccine reporting requirements (March 10, 2021)
• Change to COVID-19 vaccine billing – Medicare Advantage (December 9, 2021)

Well visits

• COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Important change to commercial adult and pediatric well visit policy (July 1, 2021)
• Medicare Advantage incentives for telehealth annual wellness visits during COVID-19 crisis ​(May 7, 2020)
• Annual Wellness Visits via telehealth incentive to end (December 2, 2021)​​​