PPE Reimbursement for Commercial Plans

The Health Care Authority (HCA) sends you this notification to resolve possible confusion regarding personal protective equipment (PPE) reimbursement as a result of new Washington State legislation.

Background

Washington State recently passed legislation requiring health benefit plans to reimburse a health care provider who bills for incurred PPE expenses as a separate expense for the duration of the federal public health state of emergency related to COVID-19.

What this means

This particular reimbursement as written applies to commercial health plans only. It does not apply to Apple Health (Medicaid) medical or dental plans.

Apple Health PPE reimbursement

Over the course of the COVID-19 public health emergency, we informed Apple Health providers of both state and federal disbursements and allocations available.

• Apple Health worked directly with the accountable communities of health and local health jurisdictions to disburse PPE to physical and behavioral health providers between June and October of 2020.
• Primary care, pediatric, and behavioral health providers received CARES act allocations in December 2020, and behavioral health providers again in January 2021.
• Apple Health reimbursed dental providers for PPE between May and November 2020.
• Dental providers were eligible for substantial federal CARES act money.

Questions

HCA will continue to notify you of reimbursement opportunities as we receive notice of their availability. Please email HCA if you have any questions.