AHIP Outlines Key Principles for Health Plans in States Reopening Amid Pandemic

America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) collaborated with chief medical officers (CMO) to develop a list of key principles for health plans in order to help them continue to provide safe, effective, evidence-based care for members as states begin to reopen post-COVID.

“These principles leverage the vast clinical and population health experience and data that health insurance providers have, and they are intended to complement the heroic efforts of clinicians fighting on the front lines of this crisis,” AHIP said in a statement.

“Patients and public health safety must come first. These clinical principles underlie our commitment to ensuring patients and health care workers are safe and supported in the delivery of effective, efficient, and evidence-based care,” said AHIP President and CEO Matt Eyles in a statement.

The priorities that AHIP outlined reflect areas of concern as several states begin the reopening process —including elective and preventive health care services.

“Health insurance providers employ doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other medical and care experts to lead our clinical operations, guide our efforts to ensure high-quality and evidence-based care, and to inform all aspects of the work they do,” stated AHIP. With that said, the first principle outlined in the press release was “Expanding Access to Alternative Sites for Care and Diagnostic Testing.”

AHIP notesd that no one should be hesitating to seek testing or treatment for COVID-19 at this stage, especially due to costs. The agency goes on to say that health care insurance providers continue to work with local community health care providers to increase access to telemedicine and improved testing sites.

Another priority listed by AHIP was prioritizing mental health for families and health care workers.

“Patients and front-line health care workers may experience trauma-related mental health needs long after the pandemic ends. Health insurance providers are working to increase telebehavioral health care access, and to offer additional options to help all Americans avoid feeling isolated, alone and anxious throughout this crisis.”

Other significant priorities listed by AHIP and agreed upon with the CMOs include:

• supporting providers by raising awareness about clinical practices and policy.
• adapting medical management tools to support patients and health care workers.
• educating members and supporting awareness.
• working with government and other stakeholders to share and aggregate data on disease progression.

AHIP also noted in their statement the continued promotion of telemedicine and virtual care, as it is pivotal in maintaining the safety and health of health care workers and patients. —Edan Stanley