SEBC votes to extend current Medicfill coverage for 12 months

DOVER, Del.— The State Employee Benefits Committee (SEBC) held its monthly meeting today, and to comply with Judge Calvin Scott’s interim ruling, the SEBC voted to extend the Medicfill contract for state pensioners for 12 months pursuant to the Emergency Procedures and Critical Need for Professional Services provision of the procurement code, 29 Del. C. §6907. Pending the resolution of the litigation, the SEBC will consider its options for Calendar Year 2024, which include renegotiation of the Highmark BCBS Delaware Medicare Advantage PPO plan contract and rebidding of the State Medicare health plan.

In the coming weeks, all State of Delaware Medicare eligible pensioners will receive additional information regarding Special Medicfill enrollment for the plan year that begins January 1, 2023. Enrollment in the Special Medicfill with prescription plan will automatically continue for individuals currently enrolled. Benefit eligible pensioners who are enrolled in the Special Medicfill without prescription plan or who have waived coverage for the current plan year, will be given the opportunity to make changes effective January 1, 2023.

As additional information becomes available, it will be posted on the DHR – Division of Statewide Benefits (delaware.gov) website and the Office of Pensions website.

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Media Contact:
Karen Smith, Communications Director
Department of Human Resources
Karen.M.Smith@delaware.gov

Waitlist will open to all Delawareans aged 16 and older; Delawareans 16+ eligible for vaccine at pharmacies, mass vaccination events, and community sites  

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney and the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) announced Tuesday that on April 6, all Delawareans aged 16 or older will become eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at pharmacies, community vaccination sites, and mass vaccination events hosted by the State of Delaware. 

• Beginning at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 6, Delawareans who are 16+ may register on the State of Delaware’s COVID-19 vaccination waiting list at vaccinerequest.delaware.gov. Invitations to state vaccination events will be contingent on supply and prioritized based on age and other risk factors, including pre-existing medical conditions. 
• Pharmacies may also begin vaccinating Delawareans who are 16+ on Tuesday, April 6. 
• Medical providers – including primary care doctors, specialty providers, and hospital systems – will continue to vaccinate only Delawareans aged 16-64 with moderate- and high-risk medical conditions and disabilities. Click here to view a list of updated medical conditions. 

Tuesday’s announcement makes all adults in Delaware eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine weeks ahead of President Biden’s target date of May 1. Access to appointments will be contingent on supply of the COVID-19 vaccines. 

As of Monday, March 29, Delaware providers had administered 439,391 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. More than 30 percent of Delaware’s population has received at least one shot. 

“Today’s announcement means that more Delawareans who want to be vaccinated will have the chance to find a shot,” said Governor Carney. “All three of these vaccines are extremely safe, and extremely effective against serious illness, hospitalization, and death. I’d urge all Delawareans to take the first shot you’re offered. That’s how we’ll beat this virus, and get back to spending more time with friends and family.”

Visit de.gov/covidvaccine for information on Delaware’s COVID-19 vaccination program. 

Anyone with a question about COVID-19, whether related to medical or social service needs, should call Delaware 2-1-1. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing can text their ZIP code to 898-211. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.  

Visit de.gov/coronavirus to get the latest on Delaware’s response to COVID-19. 

Visit de.gov/gettested to learn more about free COVID-19 testing. 

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SMYRNA (May 18, 2020) – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is announcing seven additional fatalities related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and is providing an update on the number of positive cases and recovered individuals. All data reported through the daily updates are based on data received as of 6 p.m. the previous day.

In total, 297 Delawareans have passed away due to complications from COVID-19. Individuals who have died from COVID-19 ranged in age from 21 to 103 years old. Of those who have died, 155 were females and 142 were males. A total of 130 individuals were from New Castle County, 52 were from Kent County, 114 were from Sussex County, and one individual’s county of residence is unknown at this time.

The most recent deaths announced today ranged in age from 60 to 89. Three were female and four were male. Six were New Castle County residents, and one was a Sussex County resident. Six of the individuals had underlying health conditions. Three of the individuals were residents of long-term care facilities.

To protect personal health information, DPH will not confirm specific information about any individual case, even if other persons or entities disclose it independently.

The latest Delaware COVID-19 case statistics* cumulatively since March 11, provided as of 6 p.m., Sunday, May 17, include:

• 7,869 total positive cases
• New Castle County cases: 2,738
• Kent County cases: 1,219
• Sussex County cases: 3,861
• Unknown County: 51
• Females: 4,313; Males: 3,532; Unknown: 24
• Age range: 0 to 103
• Currently hospitalized: 240; Critically ill: 39 (This data represents individuals currently hospitalized in a Delaware hospital regardless of residence, and is not cumulative.)
• Delawareans recovered: 3,545
• 34,589 negative cases**

*Data are provisional and subject to change.

**Data on negative cases are preliminary, based on negative results reported to DPH by state and commercial laboratories performing analysis.

Additional demographic data on COVID-19 cases and deaths, including race/ethnicity, more age-specific data and rates information by ZIP code, can be found on the Division of Public Health’s My Healthy Community data portal.

As part of Delaware’s expanded statewide testing program, the state will be holding two drive-thru saliva-based COVID-19 testing events this week. Prior to attending, watch the following videos available in English and Spanish to learn about how to perform the test, in English: de.gov/testing, in Spanish: de.gov/pruebas. Please do not eat, drink, or brush your teeth 20 minutes prior to this viral test. Pre-registration at the below links is strongly encouraged.

Thursday, May 21 – Middletown High School
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Middletown High School, 120 Silver Lake Road, Middletown. Pre-register at delaware.curativeinc.com to reserve your place and reduce wait time. Limited on-site registration will be available.

Sunday, May 24 – Dover DMV
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 24, at the Dover DMV, 303 Transportation Circle, Dover. Pre-register at delaware.curativeinc.com to reserve your place and reduce wait time. Limited on-site registration will be available.

As additional testing sites are scheduled, more information will be provided on the testing section of the Delaware coronavirus website at: https://coronavirus.delaware.gov/testing/.

Delaware is considering patients fully recovered seven days after the resolution of their symptoms. Three days after symptoms resolve, patients are no longer required to self-isolate at home; however, they must continue to practice strict social distancing for the remaining four days before returning to their normal daily routine.

If you are sick with any of the following symptoms, stay home: fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, muscle fatigue, chills, shaking with chills, loss of smell or taste. Other symptoms such as headache or digestive symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain or lack of appetite) have been identified as potential symptoms related to COVID-19 and may prompt further screening, action or investigation. If you are sick and need essential supplies, ask someone else to go to the grocery store or the pharmacy to get what you need.

If you believe you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or have symptoms of illness, make sure to distance yourself from others, particularly vulnerable populations. Older adults and people of any age with serious underlying medical conditions – including serious heart conditions, chronic lung conditions, including moderate to severe asthma, severe obesity and those who are immunocompromised, including through cancer treatment – may have a higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

The hospital systems in Delaware continue to offer testing through standing health facility testing sites. These testing sites require a physician’s order or prescription to be tested (*Bayhealth patients will be pre-screened via phone without needing to see a provider first). These are not walk-in testing sites. Those without a primary care provider can call the DPH Call Center Line at 1-866-408-1899. In New Castle County, individuals can call ChristianaCare at 1-302-733-1000 and Sussex County residents who do not have a provider can call the Beebe COVID-19 Screening Line at 302-645-3200. Individuals awaiting test results should wait to hear back from their medical provider. The DPH Call Center does not have test results.

Anyone with a question about COVID-19, whether related to medical or social service needs, should call Delaware 2-1-1. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing can text their ZIP code to 898-211. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Medical-related questions can also be submitted by email at DPHCall@delaware.gov.

In addition, the Division of Public Health asks any Delaware health care, long-term care, residential, or other high-risk facility with questions or concerns to email: DPH_PAC@delaware.gov or call the DPH Call Center at 1-866-408-1899 and press ext. 2.

DPH will continue to update the public as more information becomes available. For the latest on Delaware’s response, go to de.gov/coronavirus.

Working groups will focus on health and wellness, academics and equity, and operations and services

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney and Secretary of Education Susan Bunting announced a public strategy on Monday to plan for the safe reopening of Delaware school buildings. Three COVID-19 School Reopening Working Groups will advise the Delaware Department of Education (DOE), Delaware school districts and charter schools on ways to safely and effectively reopen Delaware school buildings.

Last month, Governor Carney closed Delaware public school buildings for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year due to the threat of COVID-19.

The working groups will focus on:

• Health and Wellness
  • Co-chair: Mike Rodriguez, Associate Secretary, Delaware Department of Education
  • Co-chair: Dr. Meghan Walls, Pediatric Psychologist, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children
• Academics and Equity
  • Co-chair: Monica Gant, Associate Secretary, Delaware Department of Education
  • Co-chair: Ashley Giska, Assistant Superintendent, Laurel School District
• Operations and Services
  • Co-chair: Chuck Longfellow, Associate Secretary, Delaware Department of Education
  • Co-chair: Oliver Gumbs, Director of Business Operations, Cape Henlopen School District

“These working groups will provide important recommendations to Secretary Bunting and school and district leaders on how to safely return to school,” said Governor Carney. “I am pleased with the expertise these members bring to this important effort and look forward to their guidance on the key issues that Delaware’s superintendents and charter school leaders must consider before re-opening their buildings.”

Click on working group to view membership

“We’re asking each working group to help the department develop a framework of essential actions that school district and charter school leaders should take to effectuate a safe return to school,” said Secretary Bunting. “These working groups also will help us reach out to our communities so that the ideas and concerns of Delawareans ground our work. These meetings will be open to the public, and I encourage participation across our state.”

Virtual meetings will be listed on the Public Meeting Calendar. The first meeting is Thursday, May 21 at 2:00 p.m.  

“Preparing for the next school year under these extremely difficult times is going to require a multifaceted approach,” said House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst, a member of the Health and Wellness working group. “It’s not enough to plan for the logistics of how the schools will physically operate and how to ensure all students receive the quality education they deserve. We also have to prepare to address the mental health challenges that many of our children will face. This has been a stressful time for everyone, and children are no different. If we want this unique upcoming school year to be successful, we have to address students’ mental health and wellness.”

“It is imperative that we protect the safety, health, and wellbeing of students and staff when we reopen our schools,” said Stephanie Ingram, President of the Delaware State Education Association. “Our primary goal is to meet the educational, social, and emotional needs of all students. These state work groups will give educators a voice in the decision-making process while making sure their thoughts and concerns are heard. This is all about safety. We do not want to rush into a decision that puts anyone in harm’s way.”

“As we work to transition from remote learning back into our school buildings, supporting the health and wellness of our students and staff members is imperative,” said Mike Rodriguez, Associate Secretary of Student Support at the Delaware Department of Education. “I’m excited to work with these leaders from across our state to recommend what programming, supports and protections are needed.”

The working groups, which include student representation and members of the General Assembly, will make final recommendations to DOE in July. The working groups will continue to meet through September 2020, or an alternate time period as set by Secretary Bunting. DOE will provide staffing support to the working groups.

“I’m honored to co-chair this workgroup to support Delaware students as we navigate how to make the safe transition back to school,” said Dr. Meghan Walls, a pediatric psychologist at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children and co-chair of the Health and Wellness working group. “Among our many considerations are the impact of social and emotional distancing and the importance of employing science-based practices to help students return safely to a new normal, prepared to learn.”

“I am honored to work with such a talented group of stakeholders on what will be one of the most impactful challenges on public education in modern history,” said Ashley Giska, Assistant Superintendent at Laurel School District and co-chair of the Academics and Equity working group. “While the logistics of supporting our students academically and with equity as a driving force will be great, the innovation coming from all of our schools in such a short span of time has been truly inspiring. I am certain we can create a robust path forward for all students in Delaware to grow and thrive as learners in this new environment.”

Anyone with a question about COVID-19, whether related to medical or social service needs, should call Delaware 2-1-1. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing can text their ZIP code to 898-211. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Health or medically-related COVID-19 questions can also be submitted by email at DPHCall@delaware.gov.

DPH will continue to update the public as more information becomes available. For the latest on Delaware’s response, go to de.gov/coronavirus.

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• How to access the new PUA Benefits website
• Login details for logging into the website.
• Documentation required when applying for PUA benefits.

PUA FAQ’s

• To be eligible for PUA benefits you must submit a self-certification as part of your PUA claim attesting that you meet one of the following COVID-19 reasons:
• I have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or am experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and am seeking a medical diagnosis;
• A member of my household has been diagnosed with COVID-19;
• I am providing care for a family member or a member of my household who has been diagnosed with COVID-19;
• A child or other person in my household for which I have primary caregiving responsibility is unable to attend school or another facility that is closed as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency and the school or other facility care is required for me to work;
• I am unable to reach my place of employment because of a quarantine imposed as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency;
• I am unable to reach my place of employment because I have been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19;
• I was scheduled to commence employment and do not have a job or am unable to reach the job as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency;
• I have become the breadwinner or major support for a household because the head of my household has died as a direct result of
  COVID-19;
• I had to quit my job as a direct result of COVID-19; or My place of employment is closed as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

When Can I Apply?

• Social security number or ITIN
• If you are not a citizen of the United States, your A Number (USCIS Number)
• Your residential address
• Your mailing address (if different from residential address)
• Your telephone number
• Your email address
• Your date of birth
• Your earnings records for 2019, which include (if applicable):
• Tax returns
• 1099 forms
• Pay stubs
• Bank statements
• W2
• If you want to use direct deposit for payment, your bank account and routing numbers. All others will receive payment via debit card.
• If you operate as a business entity, a valid business license or proof of ownership.