DFS to Insurers: Incentivize COVID-19 Vaccinations
The Department of Financial Services issued guidance encouraging all health insurers to offer rewards and incentives when covered individuals receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Rewards and Incentives for COVID-19 Vaccinations outlines the guidelines in which DFS is encouraging health insurers to provide unvaccinated insured individuals – adults and children – who receive the COVID-19 vaccine or a booster dose, considerations valued as much as $25, or greater, as applicable under NYS Insurance Law, and in accordance with contractual arrangements with policy holders.
For those health insurers who have approved wellness programs in place that are broad enough to include COVID-19 vaccination rewards or incentives, DFS is encouraging a full implementation of those incentives.
DFS Continues Suspension of Preauthorization for Hospital Transfers and Rehab Admissions
The DFS issued Supplemental No. 1 to Insurance Circular Letter No. 1 (2022) which continues to prohibit health insurance plans from imposing preauthorization requirements for patient transfers between in-network hospitals, or resident admissions for inpatient rehabilitation services provided by a rehabilitation facility or nursing home. The prohibition on plan preauthorization under CL No. 1 (2022) was set to expire on February 5. Under this Supplemental, the pause on preauthorization is renewed until February 28, 2022, unless further extended.
Though the pause does not apply to self-funded plans and Medicare Advantage plans, DFS continues to encourage these plans to apply the provisions of the CL to their arrangements.