![]() Therefore, the last day to submit the appeal would be 148 days (180 less 32 days elapsed from January 28 to March 1) after June 29, 2020, which would be November 24, 2020.Īlthough plans are not expressly granted more time to process and decide claims, the DOL recognizes that the COVID-19 emergency may present challenges for plans in achieving “full and timely compliance” with ERISA’s claims procedure requirements, and has said that its approach to enforcement will emphasize compliance assistance and may include other relief.įor more information, see EBIA’s ERISA Compliance manual at Sections XXXIV.F (“Timelines Under Group Health Plan Procedures”), XXXIV.M (“External Review Requirements”), and XXXV.E (“Timelines for Disability and Other Non-Health Decisions”). Therefore, the last day to submit a claim is 365 days after June 29, 2020, which is June 29, 2021.Īlso, based on the same assumptions, if an individual received a notification of an adverse benefit determination from his disability plan on January 28, 2020, which notified him that there were 180 days within which to file an appeal, the employee’s appeal deadline would be determined by disregarding the outbreak period. To determine the 365-day period applicable to the claim, the outbreak period is disregarded. Thus, if an employee received medical treatment on March 1, 2020, but did not submit a claim relating to the medical treatment until April 1, 2021, and the plan required that claims be submitted within 365 days of the receipt of the medical treatment, this participant’s request would be considered timely submitted. Other deadlines that apply for perfecting an incomplete request for review are also extended.įor example, if the COVID-19 national emergency had ended on April 30, 2020, the disregarded outbreak period would have ended 60 days later, on June 29. And deadlines have been extended for requesting external review following exhaustion of the plan’s internal appeals procedures. The extension permits the “outbreak period”-beginning March 1, 2020, and ending 60 days after the announced end of the COVID-19 emergency-to be disregarded for specified purposes related to claims.Īffected timeframes include the deadlines for individuals to notify the plan of a qualifying event or determination of disability, to file claims for benefits, and to file appeals of adverse benefit determinations under ERISA plans and non-grandfathered group health plans. How long is the extension?ĪNSWER: In response to the COVID-19 emergency, federal agencies have extended certain claims and appeals time periods for group health plans (as well as disability and other employee welfare benefit plans, and employee pension benefit plans) that are subject to ERISA or the Code (see our Checkpoint article). ![]() Participating practitioners may not bill the patient for services that EmblemHealth has denied because of late submission.įor more information, see Claims | EmblemHealth (Chapter 30, under Timely Submission) and Claims Submission - Timely Filing | EmblemHealth.QUESTION: We understand that we are required to extend the time periods applicable to claims and appeals under our group health plan due to the COVID-19 emergency. Reimbursement may be reduced by up to 25% for timely filing claims denials that are overturned upon successful appeal. ![]() Providers who wish to appeal a claim denied for late submission should follow the provider grievance process in the Provider Manual Dispute Resolution chapters for the applicable line of business:
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