Kuderer Issues Emergency Order on Prescription Access for Wildfire Survivors

Washington — Kuderer issues emergency order on prescriptions for fire survivors: Washington state Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer issued an emergency order on Thursday, Aug. 6 (PDF 287.61KB), to allow the survivors of the state’s recent wildfires streamlined access to their prescription medications.

The emergency order directs insurers to:

Allow enrollees to obtain a one-time refill of covered prescription pharmaceuticals before the expiration of the waiting period between refills.

Allow a grace period for payment of premiums of at least 60 days for individual and group health plans.

Not cancel health plans for nonpayment of premiums.

“This is an important step to ensuring people who have lost so much already can easily access the healthcare they need,” Kuderer said. “I’m confident our health insurers would agree this is the right thing to do in this stressful situation, and I strongly encourage all health plans in the state to comply with this order as the survivors get back on their feet.”

The emergency order applies to individual and small group fully insured health plans regulated by the OIC in all zip codes and adjacent zip codes in Washington state where wildfires have burned homes or other structures or where official evacuation orders have been issued. It does not apply to Medicaid, Medicare, state and school employee plans, or large group (ERISA) health plans.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has also approved Gov. Bob Ferguson’s request to declare a federal public health emergency for the areas affected by the recent wildfires. The declaration protects people who have Medicaid or Medicare.

In addition, Kuderer opened registration for out-of-state adjusters and issued an emergency order to provide premium relief to people affected by the fires.

Anyone facing disaster recovery can find information about where to start on the OIC’s website.

Kuderer is using powers granted to her following the statewide emergency that Gov. Bob Ferguson declared on Aug. 1 in response to the wildfires.

When the governor issues an emergency proclamation, the commissioner can issue an emergency order related to insurance policies to ensure access to coverage. The order can be extended by the commissioner for 30 days at a time if the governor’s emergency proclamation remains in effect.