COVID-19 information
Empire BlueCross BlueShield HealthPlus (Empire) is committed to helping our members gain timely access to care and services in a way that places the least burden on the healthcare system. We have established a team of experts to closely monitor developments and how they will impact our members and healthcare provider partners. Our actions are intended to support the protective measures taken across the country to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and reduce barriers to seeing a doctor, getting tested and maintaining adherence to medications for long-term health issues.
COVID-19 Updates
Get the latest news and information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.
Medicaid bulletins
- Provider notice for COVID-19 testing
- COVID-19 Booster Vaccine Administration Claims Submission Information
- COVID-19 Vaccine Additional Dose Administration for the Immunocompromised Claims Submission Information
- COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Claims Submission Information (January 12, 2021)
- Billing instructions for COVID-19 tests in NCPDP D.0 format
- Information from Empire BlueCross BlueShield (Empire) for care providers about COVID-19 (updated February 9, 2022)
- Department of Health and Mental Hygiene vaccine outreach counseling program
- Maximizing efficient, high quality COVID-19 screenings (March 30, 2021)
- Empire BlueCross BlueShield suspends certain authorization requirements to aid COVID-19 response (February 9, 2021)
- New York City’s COVID-19 Test & Trace Corps - (7/10/2020)
- Mental health services cost share waiver expanded to Medicaid - (6/3/2020)
- Listen now! Webinar recording available from Empire BlueCross BlueShield for network providers on SBA loans and other federal relief programs in response to COVID-19 - (5/1/2020)
- Resources supporting our providers during COVID-19 - (4/29/2020)
- Federal resources available for health care providers and employers in the federal CARES Act - (4/22/2020)
- Empire BlueCross BlueShield HealthPlus waives cost share for COVID-19 treatment - (4/6/2020)
- Patient cost-sharing for laboratory tests to diagnose COVID-19, provider visits to diagnose COVID-19 and all telehealth services - (4/3/2020)
- SOMOS management of delegated functions postponed
Pharmacy Medicaid Bulletins
- Pharmacy Billing Instructions for COVID-19 Vaccine Pharmacist Counseling (Medicaid & CHP)
- Pharmacy Billing Instructions for COVID-19 Vaccine Pharmacist Counseling (Medicaid only)
- Pharmacy Billing Instructions for COVID-19 at-home Test kits (Medicaid only)
- Pharmacy Billing Instructions for COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibody (Medicaid only)
- Zero Cost COVID-19 Oral Antivirals Pharmacy Billing Guidance
FAQ
Find answers to frequently asked questions that Empire has received from providers and staff:
Provider tools & resources
- Log in to Availity
- Launch Provider Learning Hub Now
- Learn about Availity
- Prior Authorization Lookup Tool
- Prior Authorization Requirements
- Claims Overview
- Reimbursement Policies
- Provider Manuals, Policies & Guidelines
- Referrals
- Provider Training Academy
- Forms
- Pharmacy Information
- Provider News & Announcements