Coronavirus Update Center

Surveillance, Public Health and/or Return-to-Work Testing

Updated: January 13, 2022

On June 23, 2020, the Departments of Health and Human Services, Treasury, and Labor jointly issued COVID-19 guidance holding that employers and insurers are not required to pay for COVID-19 tests that are not used for diagnostic purposes, such as testing conducted to screen for COVID-19 for workplace health and safety, public health surveillance, or for any other purpose not primarily intended for individualized diagnosis or treatment.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama will not cover Surveillance, Public Health and/or Return-to-Work testing. All Underwritten and Self-Funded groups are responsible for arranging payment and/or a contractual agreement directly with a lab of their choosing, if they wish to administer the screening for their employees.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Updated: March 17, 2022

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. CDC statistics indicate that the vaccines are very effective in preventing COVID-19 and provide a high level of protection against contracting the virus. Millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history.

Your employees can check with their local health department, physician’s office, or local pharmacy for the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine in their area. Additional details about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines and the importance of getting vaccinated can be found at www.cdc.gov/COVID19.

For workplace guidance and strategies related to maintaining healthy business operations and work environments for specific industries, employers can visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/workplaces-businesses.

If an individual has not been vaccinated, they should continue to follow preventive measures such as wearing a face mask, practicing social distancing, and washing hands frequently. Refer to www.cdc.gov/COVID19 for the most current CDC mask guidance recommendations.

COVID-10 Vaccine Safety Information Fliers:

• COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Q and A flier
• COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Myth vs Fact flier
• Also available in Forms and Materials

Information on preparations for the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Updated: August 11, 2020

As the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, continues to spread, many are concerned about the possible impacts to themselves and their families.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama is closely monitoring the situation and has prepared contingency plans to ensure business operations continue to run smoothly in the event of a widespread outbreak.

These plans include:

• Continuing to process claims electronically. (Please note that 99% of claims are processed electronically, so we do not anticipate any disruption to claims processing.)
• Heavily utilizing telework to maintain staffing of critical business areas. We expanded our telework capabilities, and currently have almost 100% of the workforce working from home.

Effective March 1, 2020:

• Families First Act, as amended by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act
  • As a result of the Families First Act, as amended by the CARES Act, both in-network and out-of-network diagnostic tests for COVID-19 and the related in-person or telehealth visit, emergency room visit, or urgent care visit must be covered at 100% with no member cost sharing. The benefits provided in the Families First Act/CARES Act are effective during the declared public national emergency.
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama “Standard” COVID-19 Related Benefit Changes Not Required by the Families First Act/CARES Act

  • Telehealth is available to all members to allow in-network PPO providers to provide medically necessary services to members that can be appropriately delivered via telephone consultation. Effective through December 31, 2020, telehealth also includes physical, speech, and occupational therapy (subject to provider capability), and behavioral health. This is applicable for members who wish to receive their care remotely and wish to limit their exposure. It can also serve as an initial screening for members who need to be tested for COVID-19.

    For plans that are not an HSA-qualified High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP):

    • Telehealth services provided by in-network PPO providers and filed with a COVID-19 related diagnosis code as outlined by the CDC and American Medical Association will be covered at 100% with no member cost sharing. This benefit is effective during the declared public national emergency.
    • Telehealth services provided by in-network PPO providers and filed with a non-COVID-19 related diagnosis code will continue to be covered, but member cost sharing will apply. This benefit is effective through December 31, 2020.
    • Telehealth services provided by out-of-network non-PPO providers will be covered at the out-of-network benefit level.

    For plans that are an HSA-qualified HDHP:

    • Telehealth services provided by in-network PPO providers must be filed with a COVID-19 related diagnosis code as outlined by the CDC and American Medical Association in order to process at 100% with no member cost sharing. This benefit is effective during the declared public national emergency.
    • Telehealth services provided by in-network PPO providers and filed with a non-COVID-19 related diagnosis code will be covered at the in-network benefit level and will be subject to applicable member cost sharing.
    • Telehealth services provided by out-of-network non-PPO providers will be covered at the out-of-network benefit level.
  • Excluding services not required by the Families First Act/CARES Act, if an in-network office visit, urgent care visit, emergency room visit, behavioral health visit, or telehealth service results in a claim being filed by the in-network PPO provider for a service or supply rendered with a COVID-19 related diagnosis as outlined by the CDC and American Medical Association, that office visit, urgent care visit, emergency room visit, behavioral health visit, or telehealth service will be covered at 100% with no member cost sharing. This benefit is effective during the declared public national emergency. Out-of-network services will be covered at the out-of-network benefit level.
  • Excluding services not required by the Families First Act/CARES Act, more than one in-network office visit, urgent care visit, emergency room visit, behavioral health visit, or telehealth service for the same member incurred on the same day will be covered if the urgent care visit, emergency room visit, behavioral health visit, or telehealth service is rendered by in-network PPO providers and the claims are filed with a COVID-19 related diagnosis as outlined by the CDC and American Medical Association. This benefit is effective during the declared public national emergency.

Please be assured that Blue Cross will continue to meet the needs of groups, members and providers even in the case of sustained spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. For additional Blue Cross information, please visit AlabamaBlue.com/Coronavirus. If you have questions, please contact your Account Executive, Sales Representative or Enrollment Services Representative.