COVID-19 Resources for Members

If your doctor believes you need to be tested and you meet the COVID-19 testing guidelines, there is no preauthorization required, and Neighborhood will cover the cost of the test. You will not need to pay any copays, deductibles, or other cost-sharing.

Rhode Island also offers free testing at locations across the state, find more information here.

Anyone experiencing a fever, cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches (myalgias), chills, runny nose or stuffy nose, sore throat, headache, or diarrhea should not go to a doctor’s office, urgent care center, or emergency room without calling their doctor first (except in a medical emergency). Tell your doctor if you have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or if you live in or have recently traveled from an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19. Your doctor will tell you how, when, and where to receive care. They will also work with Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and the CDC to determine if you need to be tested for COVID-19. More information on what to do if you are sick is available on the CDC website.

RIDOH also has a COVID-19 Info Line at (401) 222-8022, which is available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After hours, you can call 211.

Rhode Island also offers free testing at locations across the state, find more information here.

For information on testing and testing sites go to RIDOH. Rhode Islanders can schedule a COVID-19 test on portal.ri.gov.

Anyone experiencing a fever, cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches (myalgias), chills, runny nose or stuffy nose, sore throat, headache, or diarrhea should not go to a doctor’s office, urgent care center, or emergency room without calling their doctor first (except in a medical emergency). Tell your doctor if you have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or if you live in or have recently traveled from an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19. Your doctor will tell you how, when, and where to receive care. They will also work with Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and the CDC to determine if you need to be tested for COVID-19. More information on what to do if you are sick is available on the CDC website.

RIDOH also has a COVID-19 Info Line at (401) 222-8022, which is available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After hours, you can call 211.

Testing for Rhode Islanders who do not have symptoms (also called asymptomatic testing) is available for some Rhode Islanders. To find out if you are eligible, check the testing section of the RIDOH site.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at this time, the COVID-19 vaccine will be free. For the most current vaccine information, please visit the RIDOH website.

Neighborhood is committed to supporting members in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.  Neighborhood will cover costs related to the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine for all members.

Planning for distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine in Rhode Island is an ongoing process. At this time, RIDOH has provided an interim draft plan for vaccine distribution to Rhode Islanders. For the most current plan and on how different groups can get vaccinated, please visit the RIDOH website.

Governor Raimondo announced an executive order mandating any person who is out in public, whether indoors or outdoors to wear cloth face coverings whenever six feet of social distance cannot be maintained. As well, all persons are required to wear masks or face coverings inside grocery stores, pharmacies or other retail stores.

A cloth face covering is a material that covers your nose and mouth. It could be sewn by hand or you can use a household item such as a scarf, t-shirt or bandana. The face covering is meant to protect other people in case you are infected. When you return home you should immediately wash your face covering.

For more information on cloth face covering visit the CDC website.

If you are sick: You should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office. If you are not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then you should do your best to cover your coughs and sneezes, and people who are caring for you should wear a facemask if they enter your room.

There are many respiratory illnesses circulating in Rhode Island, such as the flu and the common cold. Having respiratory symptoms does not mean that you have COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. The CDC recommends these steps:

• • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
  • Socially distance from others. Social distancing means keeping space between yourself and other people outside of your home.
    • Stay at least 6 feet from other people
    • Do not gather in groups
    • Stay out of crowded places and avoid mass gatherings
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty. For information about hand washing, see CDC’s hand washing website.
  • Governor Raimondo announced an executive order mandating any person who is out in public, whether indoors or outdoors to wear cloth face coverings whenever six feet of social distance cannot be maintained. As well, all persons are required to wear masks or face coverings inside grocery stores, pharmacies or other retail stores.
    • Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a cloth face covering or face mask:
      • • CDC recommends wearing a cloth face covering when you go out in public, like to the grocery store. For more information on face cloth covering visit the CDC website.
        • Face masks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of face masks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).

For most up to date resources related to food assistance, free prescription delivery, internet access for distance learning, information for seniors and veterans, and other programs please go to United Way of Rhode Island’s Community Resource page that is updated daily or call 2-11.

For information on the resources available to Rhode Islanders during the COVID-19 crisis, visit The Economic Progress Institute.

Neighborhood has a Nurse Advice Line. Our Nurse Advice Line is available to all members. It has caring nurses available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To speak to a nurse, call the Neighborhood Nurse Advice Line at 1-844-617-0563 (TTY 711).

The nurse can help you with:

• Deciding where to go for care; like your provider, urgent care or the emergency room.
• Questions about your health concerns or medications.
• Taking care of your health at home.

The Nurse Advice Line is not an emergency service. Call 911 if you think you are having an emergency.

On Wednesday, March 18, 2020 Governor Raimondo announced an executive order that requires health insurance companies to cover all medically-appropriate telemedicine visits done telephonically, temporarily during the COVID-19 emergency. Previously, only primary and behavioral health care services were covered via telephone, but this new order expands coverage to any medically-appropriate visit type.

Neighborhood has expanded telemedicine coverage for all members to include clinically appropriate and medically necessary services to support you in accessing care. If your plan usually has co pays, deductibles or other cost-sharing, you will not need to pay for the services outlined below.

Neighborhood will cover telemedicine/telephonic services provided by the following provider types:

• Primary care physicians
• All Medical Specialists – defined as any MD, DO, NP and PA
• Optometrists
• Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (DPM’s)
• Lactation Consultants
• Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapists
• Diabetes Educators
• Nutritionists
• Midwifes
• Urgent Care Centers
• Emergency Departments
• Retail Based Clinics

Your telemedicine visit with your providers can be done through Apple FaceTime, Facebook Messenger video chat, Google Hangouts video, Skype or telephonically.

If you suspect you have COVID-19, contact your provider. Neighborhood will cover the cost for telemedicine/telephone-only services if you suspect you have COVID-19 and are contacting your provider to evaluate your symptoms for COVID-19. If your plan usually has co pays, deductibles or other cost-sharing, you will not need to pay for this service.

Neighborhood’s behavioral health partner Optum, offers virtual visits so you can receive confidential care without leaving your home. For more information on accessing virtual visits, go to live and work well to locate providers and schedule an appointment with them online.

Neighborhood has expanded telemedicine coverage for all members to include clinically appropriate and medically necessary services to support you in accessing care. If your plan usually has co pays, deductibles or other cost-sharing, you will not need to pay for the services outlined below.

For Commercial members only, Neighborhood is temporarily waiving prior authorizations for all behavioral health and all inpatient medical services regardless of whether they are COVID-19 related or not. No prior authorizations are required for treatment regardless of diagnosis for all levels of behavioral health services, and for medical and surgical inpatient services. Neighborhood will still require your provider to notify Neighborhood of your inpatient stays. These waivers apply to both in-network and out-of-network providers.

Neighborhood still requires prior authorizations for medical outpatient services and prescription drugs. Neighborhood is continuing to assess provider and member ease of access during this state of emergency.

Neighborhood has temporarily changed our policy so you can refill prescriptions earlier than the standard 30 days. This applies to all medications except a few, such as controlled substances and Specialty medications. For medications that treat chronic conditions, you may have access up to a 90-day supply refill or multiple fills of a 30-day supply. Please note that consecutive filling is at the discretion of the dispensing pharmacist. For example, if there is limited inventory of medications at that pharmacy, the pharmacist may not be able to dispense multiple fills at once.

Commercial and Neighborhood INTEGRITY (Medicare-Medicaid Plan) Members Only: Access mail order pharmacy through CVS Mail Service Pharmacy to receive convenient delivery of your maintenance medications to the location of your choice. Enroll online at www.Caremark.com or download the Mail Service Order form.

One to two-day delivery is available at almost all CVS pharmacy locations.

Controlled substances and medications that require refrigeration cannot be delivered from most CVS locations at this time.

Some local pharmacies are offering free home delivery for prescriptions for a limited time such as Green Line Apothecary, Walgreens and White Cross Pharmacy. Please call any of these local pharmacies for more details.

Neighborhood wants you to be get the services you need to be healthy and well. If your PCP is not available due to the COVID-19 emergency, you can go to another PCP. Please access Neighborhood’s provider directory here to find an in-network provider or call the Rhode Island Department of Health’s hotline at 401-222-8022.

Yes, Neighborhood will cover any medically necessary health care costs related to COVID-19. For Commercial members, copays, deductible, or other cost-sharing related to treatment will apply. If you meet the testing guidelines set by the CDC, Neighborhood will cover the cost of the test, and you will not need to pay any copays, deductibles, or other cost-sharing.

Rhode Island also offers free testing at locations across the state, find more information here.

For the duration of the state of emergency, Rhode Island has temporarily stopped most terminations and quarterly income verifications for Medicaid.

If you have experienced a recent change in your household income, contact HealthSource RI to update your account as you may qualify for additional assistance.

For information about assistance programs available to Rhode Islanders, check out the Economic Progress Institutes Guide to Assistance.

No, remember to never give out your personal information (including your membership number) over the phone to any unknown callers. Federal and local law enforcement agencies across the country are warning the public about coronavirus and COVID-19 scans. If you think you are a victim of a scam or attempted fraud involving COVID-19, please report it to the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or email disaster@leo.gov.