Premera Blue Cross launches virtual primary care health plan

Premera Blue Cross has released its 1st virtual treatment wellness program for member accessibility to main treatment companies.

Washington Condition businesses can obtain the Premera NOW program for availability on Oct 1. Though open up enrollment may differ by employer, a lot of will maintain open up enrollment this fall for a January 1, 2021 start out day.

The program is available at a lessen premium than common PPO plans.

Users could accessibility a virtual main treatment company at any time, for a zero copay, by an app operating on 98point6. This is an on-desire, text-centered main treatment service platform from independent company 98point6.

An automated assistant gathers information on symptoms, together with images if wanted. A 98point6 board-certified doctor then reviews the scenario and offers analysis and therapy privately about in-app messaging.

If important, the service can also make a referral for an in-man or woman appointment with an in-network professional. The member then gets a summary of the virtual go to.

WHY THIS Matters

Telehealth has grow to be the common of treatment in the course of the coronavirus pandemic as the Facilities for Medicare and Medicaid Services in March authorized for much more than 80 additional solutions to be furnished by means of telehealth and companies had been in a position to bill at the identical fee as an in-man or woman go to in the course of the length of the community wellness emergency.

Traditionally, telehealth is reimbursed at a lessen fee.

The announcement by Premera Blue Cross is an early glance at how insurers could incorporate much more telehealth added benefits into their advantage structure coverage for 2021.

THE Larger Trend

Premera Blue Cross, which serves the Pacific Northwest, introduced in March that it would expand telehealth solutions at minor or no expense to its users in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It waived expense sharing for all telehealth solutions for a restricted time.

ON THE Report

“The COVID-19 crisis has made it obvious that virtual treatment is right here to remain. By giving hassle-free and reasonably priced, on-desire accessibility to healthcare, we have an opportunity to create an experience that really places the shopper at the center of all we do. With Premera NOW, we are earning it straightforward to navigate the healthcare method of today and tomorrow,” reported Rick Abbott, VP of Solution and Market place Answers for Premera.

Twitter: @SusanJMorse
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