Walk through damage assessment following Hurricane Ida. FEMA photo.
OPM has highlighted to FEHB carriers the flexibilities they can use for victims of Hurricane Ida, noting that they may offer additional benefits in such situations.
Those flexibilities include that carriers:
• Relax certain provisions such as pre-certification requirements that the plan must be notified within two business days of an emergency admission.
• Relax requirements about notification and levels of benefit payment if victims are taken to non-plan and/or non-preferred provider organization hospitals or other treatment centers.
• Allow certain FEHB members to get additional supplies of medications as backup, if necessary.
OPM added: “Though charges for work-related injuries sustained by federal workers are payable by the Office of Workers’ Compensation Program, we are encouraging FEHB plans to provide immediate payment and seek subsequent reimbursement from OWCP.”
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