The COVID-19 Federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) Ends on May 11, 2023
During the COVID-19 federal Public Health Emergency (PHE), CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) enhanced our benefits to ensure members can get the care they need.
The federal PHE is scheduled to expire on May 11, 2023. As a result, testing for COVID-19 and in-office or virtual visit testing related services will be processed in accordance with member benefits. This includes any applicable member cost-sharing (including copay, coinsurance and deductible) and network limitations.
Benefits that are impacted include:
- Monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19—we will revert to imposing member cost-sharing for monoclonal antibody treatment pursuant to the member’s contract effective May 12, 2023
- Timely filings—extensions and changes will revert to pre-PHE time limits effective July 10, 2023:
- Filing limitations for appeals, COBRA, claims filing and disability timelines; time periods for filing appeals for adverse benefit determinations, filing a request for an external review or to provide information to perfect a request for external review
- Timeframe to elect COBRA and the grace period for COBRA premium payments
- The period to request special enrollment in certain circumstances
Please note, the current telemedicine and audio-visit policies that were implemented during the PHE, as well as benefits not mentioned in this notice will remain in place and unchanged until further notice. For additional information on benefits, please visit CareFirst Direct.
For commercial plans covering preventive services at zero cost-share, the COVID-19 vaccine will be included as a preventive service (with the end of the PHE, out-of-network benefits may apply).