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Coronavirus (COVID-19) information 

Thank you for helping Oregonians fight back

Thank you for all you are doing to keep our members healthy. CareOregon Advantage has been actively monitoring this situation and working in coordination with local and state public health bodies. We are committed to supporting you and making sure our members get the care they need.

The COVID Public Health Emergency ended on May 11, 2023. Oregon is returning to its previous policies for OHP, and the state has begun the redetermination process, checking if current OHP members still qualify for OHP or other state benefits. Information about this process can be found on our "About redetermination" page.

COVID-19 vaccine

As you know, the FDA has fully approved the Pfizer vaccine and approved the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines for emergency use. We are here to support you as the vaccine rolls out. Here is what we know now:

Provider Support

There are local and national lines available for physicians looking for emotional support during this time.

Click to learn more about support for physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • There are local and national lines available for physicians looking for emotional support during this time.

    1. OPAL-C emotional support for providers: The Oregon Psychiatric Access Line (OPAL) is now opening OPAL-C (COVID-19), providing emotional support to prescribing providers in the state.
      • 503-346-1000, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
    2. Physician Support Line: Free, confidential, national support line run by volunteer psychiatrists.

Testing and specimen collection

Information about covered home tests and which codes to use when testing for COVID-19.

For guidance on test ordering, specimen collection and processing please consult your contracted lab, hospital or OHA for the state lab. Medicare and the AMA have released codes to use when testing for COVID-19, which can be found in the "Lab test" section of the Oregon Medicaid COVID-19 Provider Guide.

For guidance on test ordering, specimen collection and processing please consult your contracted lab, hospital or OHA for the state lab. Medicare and the AMA have released codes to use when testing for COVID-19, which can be found in the "Lab test" section of the Oregon Medicaid COVID-19 Provider Guide.

 

COVID-19 antibody testing 

During the COVID-19 emergency, CareOregon will follow Oregon Health Plan (OHP) coverage guidance for COVID-19 antibody testing. COVID-19 antibody testing (also known as serology testing) to diagnose SARS-CoV-2 coverage criteria:

  • Uses tests that have FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) or FDA approval and
  • Is to evaluate a hospitalized person under age 21 for possible multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).

COVID-19 home tests available for members 

Home tests for COVID-19 are now available for Medicaid members who have COVID-19 symptoms or may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. Members may get up to eight tests every 30 days. Many brands of home tests are fully covered, but not all. See our formulary for details.

Members do not need a prescription for tests that do not require prior authorization. All tests must be dispensed by a pharmacy. The Oregon Board of Pharmacy allows pharmacists to prescribe COVID-19 home tests.

Members may be able to get reimbursement if they pay for tests out of pocket. Members should submit for reimbursement using this form. Receipts must be included.

 

For pharmacies: Processing home tests 

  • Pharmacies should submit claims for home tests to the Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) through the pharmacy point of sale system. 
  • Home tests should not be billed through the medical benefit. Please do not submit these to QNXT. 
  • The prescribing provider on these claims should include a pharmacist that has a current Oregon Medicaid ID. 

Telephone and video appointments

Resources, codes, and additional reference material related to telephone and video appointments (telehealth/telemedicine).

Current codes and guidance for telephone and/or video appointments

Behavioral health resources:

Information specific to behavioral health providers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pharmacy updates

Pharmacy updates, resources, and information. This section includes some updates on specific medications.

Health-related services

Learn about health-related services to cover immediate member needs like cell phones and hotel rooms. Find the forms you need to request health-related services.

Learn about health-related services to cover immediate member needs like cell phones and hotel rooms. Find the forms you need to request health-related services.

Limitations of health-related services: The Oregon Administrative Rules restrict health-related services to items not paid for with grant money, funding separate from CCO contract revenue, or normal clinical service billing. In other words, health-related services may be used only if other funding is not available. Before you make a request, please be sure there is no other funding available.

CareOregon is continuing to offer health-related services of many kinds, but in particular we are striving to meet the most immediate member needs:

  • Cell phones: With many providers moving to delivery of services via telehealth, we want to ensure that members have access to a phone. We are working with a provider to offer flip phones and simple smart phones to members.
  • Hotel rooms: For members who are at higher risk due to underlying health conditions, have been exposed to COVID-19 or are showing signs of the virus, we are attempting to find hotel rooms where members can stay while they await test results or other care that does not meet the criteria for the county’s motel sheltering program.

There are two ways you can submit requests for health-related services for members:

  1. Use our standard Health-Related Services Flexible Services Funding Request form to make requests for cell phones, hotel rooms or other health-related services for individual members.
    1. Please remember that requests for health-related services must be directly related to members’ treatment plans and require chart notes to justify the request.
  2. Bulk items are available to help clinics and providers ensure a constant supply of the most needed items. To order items in bulk — including cell phone minutes, transit passes, sleeping bags, hygiene projects and more — fill out our  Bulk Purchase Request form.
    1. Bulk requests may take up to 14 business days for review and delivery. 
    2. Clinics and county teams may make bulk requests one time per month. 
    3. Requests should be submitted by supervisors or managers. 
    4. Clinics/teams are required to keep a Bulk Request Tracking document and submit it before new orders can be fulfilled. 

Download the COVID-19 health-related services resource worksheet:

General resources:

Other useful resources related to COVID-19, including links to state and federal resources.

Current guidance for members/patients

The guidance being given to members/patients during the coronavirus pandemic. If you have questions about what to tell patients, this section can help. This includes links to interpretation services.

  • If a member has symptoms of COVID-19, CareOregon is recommending they call their primary care provider. You can best advise members on the next steps, including how to get tested.

  • We are encouraging members to stay at home and practice social distancing whenever possible. We are reinforcing that this is the most effective way to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

  • You should notify members about how appointments are being handled. We are ensuring members that clinics are still seeing patients — both in person and via telehealth — and taking precautions to keep members and staff safe.

     

  • We are urging clients receiving mental health and substance use treatment services to contact their providers directly to learn how to access services. Many providers are shifting to offering services by phone, though some in-person visits are still available. Please see the telehealth and phone-based services guidelines for behavioral health included above.
  • Elective procedures have resumed. 

  • Members still have access to CareOregon’s provider network. None of their benefits have changed, and CareOregon is still committed to helping members meet their physical, dental, mental health and addiction-related care needs.

  • Members and providers still have access to interpretation services. CareOregon’s approved interpretation vendors are Passport to Languages and Linguava. To arrange for an interpreter to be present during an appointment — whether by phone or in-person — complete the CareOregon Interpreter request form found on our  Provider Policies and Forms webpage. You can also access our vendors’ online systems to request and confirm an interpreter:
  • Rides to appointments are still available for members. Members should call the transportation service in their area to ask about service availability:
    • Ride to Care: 855-321-4899
    • NW Rides: 888-793-0439
    • TransLink: 888-518-8160

We’ve provided answers to other common questions below. This page will continue to be updated with more information as it becomes available. 

Additional information

What should clinic staff do if they suspect someone in their care has the coronavirus? 

Please reach out to the CDC, OHA or Multnomah County. They can help you with any suspected cases and suggest the appropriate next steps. 

Resources for health care staff: 

Who should we call if we have questions? 

If providers or clinic staff have other questions about COVID-19, they should reach out to OHA directly. 

If there are any questions about CareOregon’s policies during this situation, please reach out to Provider Customer Service at 503-416-4100, option 3. They can help point you to the right resource.

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