April 23, 2020
ACHP and its member companies are developing and deploying real-time solutions to secure the health and safety of their communities during this public health crisis
Covering Treatment and Testing
Deeply committed to the well-being of the communities they serve, the Alliance of Community Health Plans’ (ACHP) member companies continue to expand COVID-19 testing and treatment. In many instances, ACHP plans and their provider partners are going beyond serving their own members to knock down cost barriers for those in need. For example, a member provided emergency response testing at no cost to a hot spot in South Dakota and another completed over 17,000 calls to high-risk members.
Read our release here.
Advocating for Expanded Access and Care
To ensure continuity and access to coverage in this uncertain time, ACHP advocates for a federal Special Enrollment Period (SEP) during the COVID-19 National Emergency. Additionally, ACHP urged Congressional leaders to expand the Health Care Tax Credits (HCTC) Program to cover displaced workers and create a Medicaid Stabilization Fund to expand coverage, among other requests.
- Read our letter to CMS here.
- Read our letter to Administration officials here.
- Read our letter to Congressional leadership here.
Offering Innovative Trials, Tests and Tracing Programs in Communities Nationwide
ACHP member companies are addressing the very real challenges presented by COVID-19 in their communities while prioritizing prevention, testing and treatment. For example:
- Kaiser Permanente launched the first COVID-19 vaccine trial
- UPMC is also partnering with other health organizations on a pilot program to treat COVID-19 patients with blood plasma donated by people who have recovered from the disease
- Geisinger Health has established its first-ever contact tracing program to help slow and ultimately stop the spread of COVID-19
- Sanford Health, the largest provider of rural health care in the country, will lead a comprehensive clinical trial investigating the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine to understand its role in treating and potentially preventing COVID-19
ACHP members are also providing enhanced telehealth, behavioral health and testing resources, among others.
Additional information on efforts of ACHP plans and their affiliated systems during this public health crisis is available here.
Please contact Dan Lemle with any questions.
