Helping Our Health Care Community on the Front Lines of COVID-19

AmeriHealth New Jersey has launched a range of clinical and business initiatives since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to address the key needs of the health care community on the frontlines of fighting the coronavirus. Refer to this page for important resources as we navigate this unprecedented situation together.

Delivering care

Providing greater access. Consistent with the goal of continuing to deliver high-quality care to your patients, the following measures will remain in effect for a period of 90 days following the end of both the Public Health Emergency and State of Emergency declared by New Jersey: 

• Expanding use of telemedicine for primary care and specialty care doctors, therapists (occupational, physical, speech), nutritional counselors, and behavioral health specialists with reimbursement at in-office visit rates.
• Supporting preventive well visits for Commercial members via telemedicine. Visits are eligible for reimbursement and require audio and visual capabilities.
• Offering free COVID-19 testing for patients at  physician offices, urgent care centers, emergency rooms, drive-thru testing sites, and by home health agencies.
• Waiving requirements that members must be homebound to receive COVID-19 testing at home by a visiting nurse.

Through March 31, 2021 we are:

• Covering in-network, inpatient, acute care treatment for COVID-19 treatment, medical, or behavioral health, with no-copays.
• Providing coverage for consumer grade pulse oximetry devices for use in the home setting.

Provider News Center. All the services we have made available to your patients can be found on our Provider News Center. This site is continually updated to provide reliable information on COVID-19 care and coverage. Visit the site.

Support for your business

Helping with administrative processes. To make it easier for you to care for your patients, we are:

• Waiving the need for providers to call AmeriHealth New Jersey prior to transferring members without a COVID-19 diagnosis from acute in-network inpatient facilities to in-network post-acute facilities (long-term acute care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing facilities) and other in-network inpatient facilities through February 28, 2021. This also applies to in-network ambulance transfers.
• Temporarily suspending prior authorization for acute inpatient admissions for any COVID-19 diagnosis from the emergency room for commercial members until March 31, 2021. This includes transfers from acute in-network, in-patient facilities to in-network long-term ambulatory care, rehabilitation, or skilled nursing facilities; transfers from acute in-network inpatient facilities to other in-network in-patient facilities, transportation between facilities. This also applies to in-network ambulance transfers. Facilities are still required to notify AmeriHealth New Jersey.

PEAR portal and IndexPro™. This new self-service reporting platform is available to providers who participate in our value-based programs. The tools give you a total picture of the patients you are serving, assist you in identifying trends and cost drivers, and helps you focus on improving your performance. Visit the site.

Staying informed

Legislative updates. AmeriHealth New Jersey is working closely with state and federal agencies to understand new and pending legislation related to COVID-19 and how it affects health insurance coverage. Check out this summary of the current legislation.

Check back often. As we continue to make changes to our normal business practices, we will keep you informed through this site and the Provider News Center. Questions? Contact us.

General news

• Visit the newsroom for the latest AmeriHealth New Jersey news on COVID-19
• View our most common COVID-19 questions and answers