Number 20-B-04

To: All Insurance Companies and other Entities Licensed under Chapter 58 Of the North Carolina General Statutes

From : Mike Causey, Commissioner of Insurance

Date : March 10, 2020

Subject: Protective Actions to Prevent COVID-19– North Carolina Operations

On March 10, 2020 Governor Cooper issued EXECUTIVE ORDER NO.116, for the State of North Carolina due to COVID-19 which is a respiratory disease that can result in serious illness or death by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is a new strain of coronavirus previously unidentified in humans and which can spread from person to person. Executive Order 116 declares a state of emergency as defined in N.C.G.S. §§ 166A-19.3(7) and N.C.G.S. 166A-19.20(b) exists in the State of North Carolina. ("the Emergency Area").

Pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 58-3-228, this bulletin pertains to all health benefit plans as defined in N.C.G.S. § 58-3-167, the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees, and any optional plans or programs operating under Part 2 of Article 3 of Chapter 135 of the General Statutes, and other stand-alone prescription medication plans issued by entities that are licensed by the Department.

This bulletin is to remind health benefit plans of compliance requirements for operations under a state of emergency for purposes of obtaining extra prescriptions during a state of emergency or disaster.

This authorization of extra prescriptions during this state of emergency in the State of North Carolina is valid for prescription medication requests made within 29 days of issuance of this bulletin, unless extended by an order issued by the Commissioner.

Check the NC Department of Insurance web site for possible future updates.

www.ncdoi.gov

Please refer any questions regarding Life & Health to Ted Hamby at Ted.Hamby@ncdoi.gov

Please refer any questions regarding External Review to Susan D. Nestor at Susan.Nestor@ncdoi.gov