OIR Issues Coronavirus Memorandum
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) issued informational memorandum OIR-20-01M to health insurers and HMO’s related to coronavirus. The memorandum directs health plans to use available channels to communicate with policyholders, agents, providers and employees. These communications should include information disseminated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Florida Department of Health. The memorandum also directs health plans to inform consumers of available benefits, quickly respond to consumer inquiries, and make efforts to dispel misinformation about the virus.
The OIR memorandum further reminds health plans that in emergency circumstances, services rendered out-of-network must be covered at in-network levels. Additionally, the OIR encourages health plans to consider practical options for reducing barriers to members’ pursuing testing and treatment.