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ST. LOUIS, April 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Centene (NYSE: CNC) today announced a series of additional measures to support the most vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Building on actions already taken in partnership with the White House Coronavirus Task Force, the Company announced it will cover the cost of COVID-19-related treatments for Medicare, Medicaid and Marketplace members. In order to expedite care and eliminate the administrative burden to providers, the Company is also eliminating the need for providers to collect co-pays and removing authorization requirements for COVID-19 related treatment.
Additionally, the Company announced today that it will deliver new critical support to Safety Net providers, including Federally Qualified Healthcare Centers (FQHCs), behavioral health providers, and long-term service and support organizations.
"As a country, we must come together to serve the people that will be hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are driven to help our communities and members in their time of need, and the measures announced today are designed to help our most vulnerable populations," said Michael Neidorff, Chairman, President and CEO of Centene. "We will also continue to support our key local partners, including Safety Net providers, as they are the essential service providers in the communities we serve."
Cost waivers for COVID-19 treatment
Effective immediately, Centene will waive COVID-19 related prior authorizations and member cost sharing for related screening, testing and treatment for all Medicare, Medicaid and Marketplace members. As part of this effort, the Company will cover all telehealth services related to COVID-19 for these members, as well as all covered healthcare services that can be administered virtually through June 30, 2020.
Comprehensive support for Safety Net providers
Today, the Company is also announcing the creation of a comprehensive financial aid package in response to the unprecedented needs of our Safety Net providers including FQHCs, behavioral health providers and community-based behavioral health organizations, and long-term service and support organizations operating on the front lines of the pandemic.
Specifically, Centene is:
- Facilitating the sourcing, ordering, and shipping of personal protective equipment (PPEs) to our provider partners that enable them to meet the urgent needs of patients. Centene is already in the process of expediting the distribution of approximately 2 million pieces of PPE including safety goggles, facemasks, hand sanitizers and...