Priority Health taking measures to support members and employees amid COVID-19 outbreak
(Grand Rapids, Mich. – March 16, 2020) As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to spread across the United States, Priority Health is taking necessary steps to ensure the health and safety of both its members and employees. Through expanded coverage, increased member communication and employee social distancing, Priority Health is directly supporting Governor Gretchen Whitmer's efforts to mitigate the spread in Michigan.
Following the governor's state of emergency declaration, Priority Health announced it will fully cover the cost of physician-ordered COVID-19 testing for all members. Patients can only be tested for COVID-19 if a physician deems a test medically necessary. Priority Health is also waiving copays and deductibles for virtual COVID-19 screenings. The insurer is encouraging members to use virtual care if they have any symptoms to avoid overwhelming health care providers and prevent further spread of the virus. At this time, regular coverage will apply for in-office and emergency or urgent care visits.
"Priority Health is proud to support Governor Whitmer and the administration as they take decisive action to protect the health and wellbeing of all Michiganders. Our families, friends and neighbors live and work side by side with our members in communities across Michigan," said Joan Budden, president and CEO of Priority Health. "We believe that at times like these, when the nation is on alert, we have a responsibility to support our members however possible. We will continue to work closely with our physician and legislative partners across the state to look for other ways to help keep our communities safe."
Given the evolving nature of the COVID-19 spread, Priority Health has placed an emphasis on regularly communicating key information to members, employer groups and the broader community. The insurer has set up a dedicated COVID-19 web page that provides visitors with an overview of symptoms, best practices for hygiene and virtual care instructions. Priority Health is monitoring the situation on an ongoing basis and will be communicating any coverage updates directly to members.
In following with best practices per the CDC, and to support our employees amidst the statewide school closures, Priority Health has implemented a work-from-home policy for all eligible employees. Employees receive daily briefings on the situation and have numerous educational resources at their disposal.
Priority Health will continue to follow the CDC's activities and work with local health departments and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to assure appropriate information is obtained and readily shared. The insurer's government relations team is also in constant contact with Governor Gretchen Whitmer's team in Lansing to ensure alignment on action steps.
Priority Health members can download the Priority Health app, available on the App Store or Google Play, and log in to their member account to access virtual care options. For more information on Priority Health and ongoing efforts surrounding COVID-19, visit priorityhealth.com.
About Priority Health:
With over 30 years in business, Priority Health is the second largest health plan in Michigan, offering an extensive portfolio of health benefits options for employer groups and individuals, including Medicare and Medicaid plans. Serving more than 1.3 million members each year and offering a broad network of primary care physicians in Michigan, Priority Health continues to be recognized as a leader for quality, customer service, transparency and product innovation. Learn more about affordable, quality health coverage options from Priority Health.