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Information about novel coronavirus (COVID-19)
Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a virus strain spreading from person to person. People who have been diagnosed with novel coronavirus have reported symptoms that may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.
On this page
The Washington State Coronavirus Response (COVID-19) website has general news and information about the state response.
Apple Health (Medicaid) clients
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has extended the public health emergency (PHE) through April 20, 2021 and is extended 90 days at a time. According to the HHS letter to Governors, the PHE may be extended through the rest of 2021. HHS will provide states with 60 days’ notice before ending the PHE.
Coverage for Apple Health members will be extended during the PHE. HCA will continue to share updates as new information becomes available.
Eligibility
- Eligibility temporary changes (available in 15 languages)
- See if you are eligible for Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) or other coverage
Public health emergency (PHE)
COVID-19 services
- Testing and services
- COVID-19 testing and treatment coverage options for the uninsured (external)
- Telehealth guidance (available in 36 languages)
- Nonemergency medical transportation for COVID-19 vaccinations
- AEM assessment and treatment (MAGI and Classic Medicaid) (available in 36 languages)
Provider, billers, and partners (Apple Health)
Telehealth, testing, and treatment
- Telemedicine and telehealth brief for COVID-19
- Clinical policy and billing for COVID-19 FAQ
- Electronic signature guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic
- HCA offers limited no-cost telehealth technology licenses to providers
- HCA statement on security in telehealth technology
View more telehealth webinar resources.
Frequently accessed provider-specific materials
- Letter for COVID-19 antigens for behavioral health providers
- Request for Information (RFI) for North Sound and Pierce regions to start a Crisis Counseling Program (due October 31)
- Behavioral health weekly impacts report
- Behavioral health monthly impacts report
- Children's Long Term Inpatient Treatment Program (CLIP) guidelines for safe visitation
- Learn about behavioral health resources and recommendations
- Behavioral health institute training and technical assistance for telehealth
- Resources for peers during COVID-19
- Strategies for Foundational Community Support (FCS) providers during COVID-19
- American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM): Adjusting drug testing protocols
- Apple Health (Medicaid) behavioral health policy and billing during the COVID-19 pandemic (FAQ)
- Department of Health COVID-19 behavioral health group slides
- Agency service access changes
- COVID-19 and prescribers of buprenorphine-containing products (FAQ)
- COVID-19 and prevention support
- COVID-19 weekly update for behavioral health service providers
- Department of Health behavioral health agency COVID-19 related waiver regarding face-to-face requirements
- Integrated managed care behavioral health provider support during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Urinalysis guidelines during COVID-19
- Opioid Treatment Programs coronavirus (COVID-19) (FAQ)
- How to social distance during recovery meetings
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) COVID-19 webpage
- Inpatient hospital enhanced rate increase during COVID-19 pandemic (FAQ)
- Private duty nursing (PDN) services billing policy during COVID-19 pandemic (FAQ)
- Ambulance transportation billing policy during COVID-19 pandemic
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) policy and billing during the COVID-19 pandemic (FAQ)
- Diabetes education providers in the COVID-19 pandemic (FAQ)
- Home health services billing and policy during COVID-19 pandemic (FAQ)
- Telehealth requirements for physical, occupational and speech therapy during COVID-19 pandemic (FAQ)
- Telemedicine / telehealth services in long term care facilities and skilled nursing facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Family Planning Only Program billing guide for telemedicine services offered during the COVID-19 pandemic (FAQ)
- Health Home guidance regarding COVID-19
- Medicaid Administrative Claiming (MAC) local health jurisdictions
- School Based Health Services (SBHS) Program billing FAQ
More provider materials
- Alien Emergency Medical COVID-19 coverage expansion
- Classic Medicaid eligibility memo (March 26, 2020)
- MAGI Medicaid eligibility memo (March 24, 2020)
- Terminations and renewals eligibility memo (March 26, 2020)
- Treatment of unemployment income eligibility memo (April 27, 2020)
- Update 2 - Temporary Apple Health eligibility changes - Memos 1 thru 4 (May 8, 2020)
-
Apple Health (Medicaid) dental billing instruction updates related to COVID-19 | Presentation slides (5/13/2020)
- Apple Health eligibility and COVID-19 | Presentation slides (5/5/2020)
- Apple Health (Medicaid) telehealth policy - slide deck - recorded webinar (4/30/2020)
- Behavioral health: DBHR bi-monthly COVID-19 call for behavioral health providers (10/20/2020)
- Behavioral health: National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) treatment courts and COVID-19 (recorded 4/6/2020)
- Behavioral health: Telehealth technical assistance for providers (recorded)
- Behavioral health: Telehealth webinar slides
- We are Peer for You daily webinars
- Register for the April 20 call for behavioral health service providers
- Behavioral health bills
- University of Washington Check in with Yourself program information
- Behavioral health institute Telehealth survey information
- Bi-weekly DBHR COVID-19 call slides (updated April 6, 2021)
- Overdose prevention provider alert
- COVID-19 behavioral health impacts monthly report
- Department of Commerce housing slides (updated January 26, 2021)
- June 10 approval from CMS to amend the 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers
- April 21 approval from CMS for some elements of 1115 public health emergency request
- March 31 letter to CMS requesting 1115 waiver flexibility relating to Medicaid Transformation Project
- March 26 CMS letter to the Governor regarding 1135 waiver request
- 1135 waiver: COVID-19 emergency declaration health care providers fact sheet
- Supplemental emergency 1115 waiver request for Medicaid services
- Appendix K: Home and community-based waivers
- Appendix K: COPES waiver
- Appendix K: New Freedom waiver
- Appendix K: Residential Support waiver
- Washington State 1135 waiver request to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- CMS approves Washington State's request for Medicaid 1135 waiver
- July 15 approval from CMS for title XXI CHIP SPA WA-20-0001
Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) members
- FAQs about the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and your PEBB medical coverage (updated April 5, 2021)
- PEB Board approves emergency resolutions related to COVID-19
School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) members
Contact
For COVID-19:
Telehealth policy, billing, or coding questions
Email: HCAAH_COVID19@hca.wa.gov
Reimbursement questions
Contact us: provider login
Phone: 1-800-562-3022
Behavioral health questions
Email: HCADBHRBHCOVID19@hca.wa.gov
Add the topic to the email subject line (for example, Foundational Community Supports, Residential SUD).
Pharmacy related questions
Email: AppleHealthPharmacyPolicy@hca.wa.gov