• All member cost-sharing waivers for covered in-network telemedicine visits for outpatient behavioral and mental health counseling services for Commercial plans are active until January 31, 2021.¹ Self-insured plans offer this waiver at their own discretion.² Cost share waivers for any in-network covered medical and behavioral health services telemedicine visit for Aetna Student Health plans are active until January 31, 2021.
• For Medicare Advantage membership, Aetna is waiving all cost shares for COVID-19 screening, testing and provider visits to diagnose COVID-19, including provider office visits, telehealth visits, urgent care visits and emergency room visits until further notice.
• For Individual Aetna Medicare Advantage members, in-network telehealth visits for primary care will be covered at no cost share through the end of the Public Health Emergency. Retiree members should check to see their plan coverage.
  
• Aetna is offering 90-day maintenance medication prescriptions for insured and Medicare members. It is also working with state governments to make the same option available to Medicaid members where allowable. Self-funded plan sponsors will also be able to offer this option.
• Aetna is also waiving early refill limits on 30-day prescription maintenance medications for Aetna members of Commercial and Medicaid (with limited exceptions as required by state Medicaid agencies) plans with pharmacy benefits administered through CVS Caremark.³ Medicare members with pharmacy benefits administered through CVS Caremark may continue to get early refills following Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services requirements through the end of the Public Health Emergency.
• Through Aetna’s Healing Better program, members who are diagnosed and hospitalized with COVID-19 will receive a care package, mailed direct to their home, containing useful information and resources to help recover, as well as personal and household cleaning supplies to help keep others in the home protected from potential exposure.⁴
• Through existing care management programs, Aetna is proactively reaching out to members most at-risk for COVID-19. Care managers will walk members through what they can do to protect themselves, where to get information on the virus, and where to go to get tested.
• CVS Pharmacy is waiving charges for home delivery of prescription medications.⁵ With the CDC encouraging people at higher risk for COVID-19 complications to stay at home as much as possible, this is a convenient option to avoid coming to the pharmacy for refills or new prescriptions.

CVS Health has implemented the following programs to educate members about COVID-19 and help address any associated anxiety and stress:

• Opened Crisis Response Lines for all Aetna (Commercial, Medicare, Medicaid) and Caremark members who may be experiencing anxiety related to COVID-19.
• Expanded 24x7 access to the Aetna Nurse Medical Line for all Aetna and Caremark members.
• Provided Aetna plan sponsors with a Resources for Living toolkit with materials specifically developed for members experiencing anxiety related to COVID-19.

Members can use Teladoc^® or their provider may be able to offer them services over the phone or through a telemedicine platform where you have a real-time visual connection. Members can check availability by accessing Aetna online DocFind directory, contacting their provider or visiting the  Coronavirus resource page on Aetna.com.

MinuteClinic offers two telemedicine options, including E-Clinic visits and MinuteClinic video visits. For more details, visit www.minuteclinic.com. These visits are covered by most Aetna commercial and Medicare plans.

We are still learning about the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 and how it spreads. At this time, the WHO and CDC have stated that the likelihood of novel coronavirus contaminating cardboard or other shipping containers is low. Our shipping carriers follow CDC guidelines to protect their employees and recipients of our orders, and this includes best practices for cleaning, social distancing and sanitizing. Our shipping suppliers have largely relaxed the requirement for a physical signature for orders that would normally require one. We are sourcing additional personal protective equipment such as gloves and masks for our staff, and training staff on its proper and effective use. We regularly sanitize the bins that transport orders throughout pharmacy processes. For more information, please check the CDC website.

As the pandemic continues to spread, CVS Health is taking steps to address the outbreak and protect member access to medication. The latest steps we are taking will help ensure patients have options available to them when it comes to filling prescriptions. Steps we are taking include:

• Waiving charges for CVS Pharmacy home delivery of medications.
• Encouraging members to refill their maintenance medications with a 90-day supply or up to the plan maximum.  
• Developing travel, Work from Home, and other HR-related guidance to help employees stay safe and healthy.
• Working with external public health organizations and other stakeholders, including the CDC, to boost awareness of CVS Health’s emergency preparedness efforts and capabilities.

We are closely monitoring the global manufacturing environment and working with our suppliers to ensure we can continue filling prescriptions for our pharmacy patients and plan members at CVS Health. We are actively managing our supply to ensure our ability to continue to fill prescriptions in our retail, mail and specialty pharmacies.

We’re also balancing the growing interest in off-label use of certain prescription medications to treat COVID-19 pneumonia with the ongoing needs of patients and members who are prescribed these drugs to help manage chronic conditions such as lupus, HIV, rheumatoid arthritis and asthma. Our goal is to limit stockpiling of medication that could result in future shortages and gaps in care.

Our retail pharmacies are following dispensing guidelines regarding the use of these medications for COVID-19 that have been established in certain states. In states with no guidelines, our pharmacies are limiting the dispensing for COVID-19 treatment to a 10-day supply with no refills.

With client consent, our PBM CVS Caremark is setting appropriate coverage limits on the quantity of these medications for potential use in treating COVID-19. Plan members who already take these medications for approved uses will be able to bypass the new quantity limits.

Aetna Resources For Living (RFL) is offering support and resources to individuals and organizations who have been impacted by Coronavirus. Through this liberalization, those in need of support can access RFL services whether or not they have it as part of their benefits.

• Individuals and organizations who don’t have RFL can contact RFL at 1-833-327-AETNA (1-833-327-2386) (TTY: 711).
• Members and plan sponsors who do have RFL should call their designated RFL number available in program materials.

Support to individuals and organizations that don’t have RFL includes:

• In-the-moment phone support to help callers cope with the emotional impact of the COVID-19 outbreak
• Informational brochures about dealing with a crisis
• Community resource referrals, including local support services in the local area
• Management consultation to help organizations respond to the needs of their employees, even if they’re not RFL customers
  
  • Employers may contact our specialized support line at 1-800-243-5240 (TTY: 711).
  • Group support services may be available telephonically or onsite where appropriate on a fee-for-service basis to help managers and employees manage the disruption and distress of this situation.

You can find more information on COVID-19 at these links:

COVID-19 resources and updates - CDC

COVID-19 information and guidance - WHO

COVID-19 and your health - CDC