Health Connector reissuing RFIs; Testing Updates
07/31/20
Health Connecter Reissuing RFIs in Late July- Early August; Response Required Within 30 Days: During the COVID-19 emergency, the Health Connector had stopped terminating or downgrading members for failure to respond to a Request for Information (RFI). Now, in preparation for annual renewals leading up to the 2021 open enrollment period, the Health Connector is rolling back this protection. Last week the Health Connector started sending new RFIs to members who were previously sent RFIs during the COVID-19 emergency but didn't respond. Those members will have 30 days to respond to the reissued RFIs. If the member doesn't respond timely, the Health Connector will make a decision based on the data available to it or terminate coverage if no data is available, in accordance with its pre-COVID policies. MassHealth members in the same household will remain protected in their current coverage by MassHealth.
Be sure to get the word out to your clients and patients on ConnectorCare, so they know that they need to respond to these reissued RFIs.
You can read more about this on slide 7 of this MTF presentation.
DPH Order Regarding Billing for COVID-19 Testing: On July 22, the Commissioner of the MA Department of Public Health signed an emergency order prohibiting health care facilities, providers, or any entity which administers testing for COVID-19 from billing uninsured individuals for a COVID-19 test or any associated fees or costs. Instead, they are directed to submit a claim for reimbursement to the federal HRSA portal, or provide the testing at no-cost .The order further prohibits requesting or requiring identification documents as a condition of testing.
Free Testing Expanded: Massachusetts' "Stop the Spread" initiative to provide free testing to people regardless of symptoms has been expanded to eight additional towns. Testing sites are now located in: Agawam, Brockton, Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Marlborough, Methuen, New Bedford, Randolph, Revere, Springfield, Tauton, and Worcester. You do not need to be a resident of one of these towns to receive testing.