OLYMPIA, Wash. — Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler issued an emergency order to Washington state health insurers requiring them to waive copays and deductibles for any consumer requiring testing for coronavirus (COVID-19).
Insurers also must:
• Allow a one-time early refill for prescription drugs.
• Suspend any prior authorization requirement for treatment or testing of COVID-19.
In addition, if an insurer does not have enough medical providers in its network to provide testing or treatment for COVID-19, it must allow enrollees to be treated by another provider within a reasonable distance at no additional cost, Kreidler’s staff said in a news release.
The order was effective as of Thursday and applies to all state-regulated health insurance plans and short-term limited duration medical plans until May 4, 2020.
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