Note: This message was emailed to all Ballad Health team members from Alan Levine, president and CEO of Ballad Health, on Wednesday, May 3.
Dear Colleague:
I want to provide an update on our status related to COVID-19.
As you may be aware, the federal government has announced the public health emergency will expire Thursday, May 11, and will not be renewed. Also, the Biden administration has announced plans to repeal the HHS rule mandating the COVID-19 vaccine for healthcare facilities that receive federal funding.
As you may recall, Ballad Health forcefully opposed the COVID-19 vaccine mandate at the time it was imposed, and I testified before Congress in opposition to the mandate. The mandate went all the way to the Supreme Court, with the court ultimately siding with the Biden administration that it had the authority to impose the mandate. Ultimately, Ballad Health complied with the HHS rule so as not to jeopardize our participation in Medicare and Medicaid, which would have had disastrous consequences for our patients and team members.
Now, as a result of the administration’s announcement that they plan to repeal the mandate, I have directed that our COVID-19 vaccination policy be repealed, effective immediately. Further, given the low volumes of COVID-19 we are seeing in the hospitals currently, I have stood down the Corporate Emergency Operations Center (CEOC).
Additionally, our coverages for COVID-19 services for team members will revert to our normal coverage policies, meaning:
- COVID-19 vaccines will continue to be covered at 100% with no cost-sharing, as long as you use an in-network BCBST provider or OptumRx network pharmacy.
- COVID-19 testing (lab or office) will be covered the same as other routine lab testing. Depending upon the medical plan you are enrolled in, these services will be subject to your plan deductible and co-insurance.
- Anti-viral medications, such as Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir) and Lagevrio, will be covered under the OptumRx pharmacy plan, subject to the plan deductible and co-insurance when using a network pharmacy.
- At-home COVID-19 tests will no longer be covered.
New hires will not be required to be vaccinated. Anyone who was previously employed with Ballad Health but had their employment terminated due to the vaccination requirement will be eligible for rehire.
COVID-19 may be with us for a long time to come, but it has become a diagnosis we will approach as we do any other.
I want to thank our CEOC team, led by Eric Deaton, which worked so hard throughout the pandemic to ensure our preparedness. Mostly, I want to thank ALL our team members who were on the front lines caring for patients, helping each other out, and finding ways to contribute.
We will all have our memories of the last three years and how this enormous event impacted us personally and professionally – and, given the labor shortages we now face, we know we have work to do in order to dig our way out of the lasting impact of COVID on our health system.
I will have more to report shortly, but suffice it to say, Ballad Health has stood out nationally as a health system that delivered for its region, made responsible decisions which have helped us serve our communities, and has been an example of resilience. I realize it may not feel that way, given the pressure on us … but believe me when I say that we are being held up as an example of a health system that did it right. You should be proud of this.
God bless each of you and your families.
Alan
