Meritain Health® - In the Booth

Meritain Health’s response to COVID-19

March 18, 2020 Meritain Health Season 1 Episode 4
Meritain Health® - In the Booth
Meritain Health’s response to COVID-19
Show Notes Transcript

Meritain Health is committed to being Advocates for Healthier Living, helping our customers be and stay healthy.  

  • Meritain Health is proactively bringing strategies and options to our plan sponsors to provide solutions for our customers to enable their employees to access care and help prevent the spread of Covid-19.
  • Meritain Health has “fast tracked” several plan enhancements that customers can put into place quickly.  However, clients have the flexibility to make other enhancements to their plans that Meritain Health will support.
  • Meritain Health is able to continue operations during this time and will continue monitoring best practices to share with our customers and brokers ideas they may wish to consider to help employees prevent illness and access care.



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Meritain Health’s response to COVID-19 PodcastMeritain Health’s response to COVID-19 Podcast  BC: Thank you for joining me in the booth today, my name is Bridgette.  Today I am joined by Michael , Claudia and Ryan.  Thank you all for joining me.BC: Thank you for joining me in the booth today, my name is Bridgette.  Today I am joined by Michael , Claudia and Ryan.  Thank you all for joining me.  We have brought this group of senior leaders at Meritain Health together to discuss their thoughts and Meritain Health’s response to the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.  This is a difficult time for many, Michael, what is Meritain Health doing to proactively address the situation?We have brought this group of senior leaders at Meritain Health together to discuss their thoughts and Meritain Health’s response to the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.  This is a difficult time for many, Michael, what is Meritain Health doing to proactively address the situation?  MC: Thank you Bridgette.  Meritain Health is committed to being Advocates for Healthier Living, helping our customers be …and stay …healthy.  Additionally, as a TPA we feel it’s important to give our plan sponsors flexibility to meet the needs of their members. For this reason we’re providing two options.MC: Thank you Bridgette.  Meritain Health is committed to being Advocates for Healthier Living, helping our customers be …and stay …healthy.  Additionally, as a TPA we feel it’s important to give our plan sponsors flexibility to meet the needs of their members. For this reason we’re providing two options.  First, we are giving support to our brokers, clients and members by allowing for the opportunity to enhance benefits on a "fast track" basis to eliminate any barriers members may have in getting care.  These “fast track” options allow us to expedite the setup of these enhanced benefits on a temporary basis to help mitigate concerns about the COVID-19 virus.  First, we are giving support to our brokers, clients and members by allowing for the opportunity to enhance benefits on a "fast track" basis to eliminate any barriers members may have in getting care.  These “fast track” options allow us to expedite the setup of these enhanced benefits on a temporary basis to help mitigate concerns about the COVID-19 virus.    So, the options we are offering include: No cost share to members for Diagnostic Testing for COVID-19 which covers the test kit in any approved laboratory location both in and out of network, applicable only to testing.  And/or If they currently access Teladoc, there’s no cost share to members for any Teladoc calls, which would apply to any utilization of the Teladoc general telemedicine services. This enhancement is intended to minimize the stress on the US healthcare system, and reduce individual exposure in provider offices, plus  applies to all diagnoses. So, the options we are offering include: No cost share to members for Diagnostic Testing for COVID-19 which covers the test kit in any approved laboratory location both in and out of network, applicable only to testing.  And/or If they currently access Teladoc, there’s no cost share to members for any Teladoc calls, which would apply to any utilization of the Teladoc general telemedicine services. This enhancement is intended to minimize the stress on the US healthcare system, and reduce individual exposure in provider offices, plus  applies to all diagnoses.   Alternately, we know our clients may have specific needs they’d like to meet.  For this reason, we’re allowing any plan sponsor to update their plan as they desire.Alternately, we know our clients may have specific needs they’d like to meet.  For this reason, we’re allowing any plan sponsor to update their plan as they desire.  For Meritain Pharmacy clients, we have also temporarily removed any early refill restrictions on their plan.For Meritain Pharmacy clients, we have also temporarily removed any early refill restrictions on their plan.  We feel these options help to give our members every opportunity to access the care they need, when they need it.  As a TPA, we can remain nimble and address the ever-changing needs of those we serve proactively when we can, and in the case of crisis, we are quick to respond with the right approach to support the best interest of all with whom we partner. BC: Thank you Michael. I know that the ability to add these enhancement quickly and easily will definitely ease a lot of our clients’ and members’ minds.  Claudia, are there other enhancements clients can make to their plans to address their concerns with COVID-19?We feel these options help to give our members every opportunity to access the care they need, when they need it.  As a TPA, we can remain nimble and address the ever-changing needs of those we serve proactively when we can, and in the case of crisis, we are quick to respond with the right approach to support the best interest of all with whom we partner. BC: Thank you Michael. I know that the ability to add these enhancement quickly and easily will definitely ease a lot of our clients’ and members’ minds.  Claudia, are there other enhancements clients can make to their plans to address their concerns with COVID-19?  CW:  Thank you Bridgette.  In addition to the plan design options Michael laid out, we have services such as Resources for Living, Teladoc, and low cost/no cost access to CVS Minute Clinics that our clients can always add to their benefit offerings.  While not all would be fast-tracked, this crisis has allowed our clients to reassess their options.CW:  Thank you Bridgette.  In addition to the plan design options Michael laid out, we have services such as Resources for Living, Teladoc, and low cost/no cost access to CVS Minute Clinics that our clients can always add to their benefit offerings.  While not all would be fast-tracked, this crisis has allowed our clients to reassess their options.  BC:  Claudia, can you tell us a little more about each option?BC:  Claudia, can you tell us a little more about each option?  CW:  Sure!  Resource for Living is our Employee Assistance Program, designed to help employees both in a time of crisis as well as in everyday life.  As Advocates for Healthier Living, we have extended crisis resources to all affected communities right now.  However, we all know the needs for employees will continue long after the urgent needs are met.  By implementing Resources for Living now, our clients will be ready to help their employees over the long haul.CW:  Sure!  Resource for Living is our Employee Assistance Program, designed to help employees both in a time of crisis as well as in everyday life.  As Advocates for Healthier Living, we have extended crisis resources to all affected communities right now.  However, we all know the needs for employees will continue long after the urgent needs are met.  By implementing Resources for Living now, our clients will be ready to help their employees over the long haul.  Teladoc is our telemedicine partner.  We and many others are encouraging the use of telemedicine at this time as it keeps people out of doctor’s offices, away from other sick people and it reduces stress on our healthcare system.  Teladoc is our telemedicine partner.  We and many others are encouraging the use of telemedicine at this time as it keeps people out of doctor’s offices, away from other sick people and it reduces stress on our healthcare system.    Finally, we are pleased that CVS Minute Clinics are ready and able to treat patients during this scary time.  Meritain, as a CVS-owned company, has access to a unique set up where employees can access Minute Clinics at low cost or even no cost and plan sponsors have a reduced expense.  It’s just been announced that CVS will have access to COVID-19 tests so we’re proud to serve our communities and make the healthcare system simple in this time of need..  Finally, we are pleased that CVS Minute Clinics are ready and able to treat patients during this scary time.  Meritain, as a CVS-owned company, has access to a unique set up where employees can access Minute Clinics at low cost or even no cost and plan sponsors have a reduced expense.  It’s just been announced that CVS will have access to COVID-19 tests so we’re proud to serve our communities and make the healthcare system simple in this time of need..    BC: Thank you, Claudia.  Meritain Health certainly has a wide array of products that not only are applicable to this situation but are definitely products our clients and members would leverage in the future.  Ryan, can you speak to next steps, and how our customers can learn more about these options?  BC: Thank you, Claudia.  Meritain Health certainly has a wide array of products that not only are applicable to this situation but are definitely products our clients and members would leverage in the future.  Ryan, can you speak to next steps, and how our customers can learn more about these options?    RB:  Sure Bridgette, we have been proactively reaching out to our clients and our account management team is always available to talk about the fast track options, the options Claudia mentioned and any other questions they may have about their plan.  In turn, we will continue monitoring best practices to share with our customers and brokers ideas they may wish to consider to help employees prevent illness and access care.RB:  Sure Bridgette, we have been proactively reaching out to our clients and our account management team is always available to talk about the fast track options, the options Claudia mentioned and any other questions they may have about their plan.  In turn, we will continue monitoring best practices to share with our customers and brokers ideas they may wish to consider to help employees prevent illness and access care.  BC: Thanks Ryan.  Can I ask one more question, does Meritain Health have any concerns with continuing to serve clients and members during this time?BC: Thanks Ryan.  Can I ask one more question, does Meritain Health have any concerns with continuing to serve clients and members during this time?  RB:  Good question Bridgette.  Even prior to the crisis, approximately 95% of Meritain Health employees had the ability to work from home.  For their safety and to encourage social distancing, we have asked these employees to all work from home for the current time.  The remaining 5% primarily work in our call center.  We are currently deploying equipment to support work at home for these team members.  We are confident we will be able to maintain the service our clients expect.  While certainly it’s not ‘business as usual’, we are able to continue providing the highest level of service to our customers and members.RB:  Good question Bridgette.  Even prior to the crisis, approximately 95% of Meritain Health employees had the ability to work from home.  For their safety and to encourage social distancing, we have asked these employees to all work from home for the current time.  The remaining 5% primarily work in our call center.  We are currently deploying equipment to support work at home for these team members.  We are confident we will be able to maintain the service our clients expect.  While certainly it’s not ‘business as usual’, we are able to continue providing the highest level of service to our customers and members.  BC: Thanks Ryan and thank you all. If I can just summarize, I think I heard: BC: Thanks Ryan and thank you all. If I can just summarize, I think I heard:   ·         Meritain Health is proactively bringing strategies and options to our plan sponsors to provide solutions for our customers to enable their employees to access care and help prevent the spread of Covid-19.·         Meritain Health is proactively bringing strategies and options to our plan sponsors to provide solutions for our customers to enable their employees to access care and help prevent the spread of Covid-19.·         Meritain Health has “fast tracked” several plan enhancements that customers can put into place quickly.  However, clients have the flexibility to make other enhancements to their plans that Meritain Health will support·         Meritain Health has “fast tracked” several plan enhancements that customers can put into place quickly.  However, clients have the flexibility to make other enhancements to their plans that Meritain Health will support·         Meritain Health is able to continue operations during this time and will continue monitoring best practices to share with our customers and brokers ideas they may wish to consider to help employees prevent illness and access care.·         Meritain Health is able to continue operations during this time and will continue monitoring best practices to share with our customers and brokers ideas they may wish to consider to help employees prevent illness and access care.  MC: That’s it Bridgette, thank you.MC: That’s it Bridgette, thank you.  BC: Well, thank you Michael, Claudia and Ryan for joining in me in the booth.  As Ryan mentioned, please reach out to your account management team if you have any questions.  BC: Well, thank you Michael, Claudia and Ryan for joining in me in the booth.  As Ryan mentioned, please reach out to your account management team if you have any questions.   

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