Payer

UnitedHealth Group changed its policies to promote more remote work after the insurer had asked tens of thousands of its employees to continue coming on-site amid the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Here are six notes on how COVID-19 is affecting health insurers and how they're responding:

Highmark Health said it's seeing members rejoin the company after the insurer and rival UPMC ended a long contract feud last year, according to Trib Live.

A severe COVID-19 pandemic could cost health insurers in the U.S. more than $90 billion in medical claims, according to analysis from S&P Global Ratings.

While companies across the U.S. implement work-from-home policies to help combat the spread of COVID-19, UnitedHealth Group has instructed its employees who aren't sick, high-risk or facing other obstacles to go to work, according to The Washington Post.

Some commercial payers are moving to cover cost-sharing and out-of-pocket costs for physician office visits related to COVID-19 screening, according to Forbes contributor Bruce Japsen.

The CPT Editorial Panel approved a new CPT code for coronavirus laboratory testing services, according to the American Medical Association.

High-deductible health plans will be able to keep their status even if they waive cost-sharing for COVID-19 tests before a member's deductible is met, according to an IRS notice.

The following payer executives changed their positions in the past few weeks.

Moody's Investors Service changed its outlook of U.S. Anesthesia Partners, a group of nearly 5,000 anesthesia providers, from stable to negative due to a contract termination from UnitedHealth Group.