News Briefs
✦ In new guidance, CMS on Feb. 26 expanded the amount and types of COVID-19 testing insurance plans are required to cover without cost sharing. Per a CMS press release: “This guidance makes clear that private group health plans and issuers generally cannot use medical screening criteria to deny coverage for COVID-19 diagnostic tests for individuals with health coverage who are asymptomatic, and who have no known or suspected exposure to COVID-19. Such testing must be covered without cost sharing, prior authorization, or other medical management requirements imposed by the plan or issuer.” Learn more at http://go.cms.gov/3biz0aV.
✦ HealthCare.gov Navigators will have access to $2.3 million in additional marketing funding during the pandemic-related special enrollment period (SEP), which runs through May 15, CMS announced. CMS said 30 organizations across 28 states will be allowed to use the funds. The agency also reported that 206,236 new plans have been selected by consumers during the period between Feb. 15 and Feb. 28, the first two weeks of the SEP. Also, the agency reported that 385,864 consumers have filed requests for coverage in the same period. Find the press release at http://go.cms.gov/3rke6xx and enrollment figures at https://go.cms.gov/2NUJcO9.