Emergency order from Washington state Office of the Insurance Commissioner affects cost sharing, prescription refills

Mar. 10, 2020

In response to the Office of the Insurance Commissioner’s emergency order regarding COVID-19, Kaiser Permanente Washington has made some changes to cost-sharing and prescription refills.

Cost sharing

For all Kaiser Permanente health plans, cost sharing (deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance) will be reduced to zero dollars ($0.00) for medically necessary screening and testing for COVID-19. This includes office visits, associated lab testing, and radiology services in a plan hospital, emergency or urgent care setting, or medical office. This cost sharing reduction will apply to all Kaiser Permanente and other plan (participating) providers.

If a member is diagnosed with COVID-19, all treatment including but not limited to hospital, transportation and pharmacy services will be covered in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the coverage document for the member’s health plan.

Prescription refills

Our pharmacy staff in Washington will allow early prescription refills in compliance with the state’s emergency order issued on March 5, 2020. We will also allow early refills in Oregon, as our Northwest operations include both Washington and Oregon. Unless there is clinical concern, early refill requests for non-controlled substances will be allowed when the patient has a current supply of 30 days or less.
 
Questions? Contact your producer or your Kaiser Permanente sales team. If members have questions, please direct them to call Member Services at 1-888-901-4636, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.


All carrier plans offered and underwritten by Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington or Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington Options, Inc. Self-funded health benefits are insured by an employer, union, or Plan sponsor. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington and Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington, Inc., provide certain administrative services for the self-funded Plan and are not an insurer of the Plan or financially liable for health care benefits under the Plan.

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