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Sparrow Physicians Health Plan to Waive Member Cost Sharing for COVID-19 Testing and Early Prescription Refill Limits

Michigan Business Beat
March 13, 2020 9:00 AM

LANSING, MI – Physicians Health Plan (PHP) announced that it will waive prior authorizations and Member cost sharing for COIVD-19 testing as well as waive early prescription refill limits.

“Our top priority is the health and safety of our Members,” says Physicians Health Plan Medical Director Peter Graham, M.D. “With so much uncertainty around COVID-19, we want to alleviate any worry a Member may have about testing.”

Effective immediately, PHP will waive Member expenses for COVID-19 testing and will increase access to prescription medication for their individual, fully insured groups, and Medicare Advantage Members, which includes Sparrow Advantage, Covenant Advantage, and PHP Advantage. Among the steps PHP is taking:

  • PHP will waive prior authorization and member copays and deductibles for COVID-19 diagnostic testing as ordered by a Physician and consistent with CDC guidelines, and

  • PHP will waive early prescription refill lockouts to ensure an adequate supply.

In addition, PHP is working to streamline bed or facility transfers. This includes both intra- and inter-facility transfers, whether in or out of network, to help alleviate potential shortages in ICU beds.

Should a PHP Member be diagnosed with COIVD-19, PHP will cover medically necessary services as we would any other illness or injury and in accordance with the Member’s policy.

“We also want to remind our members of the extreme importance of the CDC guidance to stay home if feeling unwell,” says Dr. Graham. “Given the nature of how COVID-19 is spread, PHP members are strongly encouraged to call their healthcare provider or use a telehealth benefit, if available, first before seeking in-person care, especially if fever and/or cough are present.”

If any PHP Member has a question about their health plan coverage, they may call the customer service number on the back of their card.

For more information, go to phpmichigan.com or Sparrow.org/Coronavirus.

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ABOUT PHYSICIANS HEALTH PLAN
Physicians Health Plan (PHP) began in 1980 when Sparrow Health System and a group of visionary physicians began developing Mid-Michigan’s first broad-based independent practice association. Today PHP remains a subsidiary of Sparrow and it has more than 3,100 practitioners and 31 hospitals participating in its providers network. PHP’s mission is to improve the health status of its members by facilitating access to quality, compassionate, accessible and cost-effective health services through organized health delivery systems. For more information about Physicians Health Plan, visit www.phpmichigan.com.

 

ABOUT SPARROW
Sparrow, a member of the prestigious Mayo Clinic Care Network, is mid-Michigan’s premier health care organization that includes hospitals in Lansing, Charlotte, St. Johns, Ionia and Carson City as well as Physicians Health Plan, Sparrow Care Network, Sparrow Medical Group and the Michigan Athletic Club. Sparrow has a partnership with Michigan Medicine at the Sparrow Children’s Center and is affiliated with Michigan State University’s three human health colleges. Through these partnerships and the dedication of our 10,000 Caregivers, Sparrow pursues a vision to be nationally recognized as a leader in quality and Patient experience. For more information, visit Sparrow.org. 

Michigan Business Beat, hosted by Chris Holman, discusses economic development, new or unusual entrepreneurial initiatives, and successful business practices from different regions and industries around Michigan with a wide range of entrepreneurs and business leaders.

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