Yes, we are offering in-person appointments as well as virtual appointments. We prefer to see you in-person but respect your decision if you prefer a virtual visit. However, some conditions and treatments require an in-person appointment.

We have implemented new procedures to keep you safe during your in-person visit. We encourage you to schedule your annual wellness exams as well as any appointments needed before children go back to school. You can learn more here.

Call Vivacity Care Center today at 509-228-3300 and we’ll help determine if an in-person or virtual visit will best suit your needs.

We’ve made a number of changes in our care center to keep our members and staff safe and healthy. We’re committed to exceeding any guidance regarding health, safety, and infection controls provided by local and federal health authorities.

Here are the specific changes we’ve made to keep you safe:

• Modified Hours: We’ve broken up each day into two halves. Members coming in for non-respiratory symptoms will be scheduled during morning hours. The afternoon is reserved for members with respiratory complaints or needing a COVID-19 screening.
• Pre-Visit Phone Screening: All patients will be screened for recent illness, travel, fever or recent exposure to COVID-19 via phone prior to their visit. This will allow us to schedule your appointment for the right time of the day.
• Waiting In Cars: Members are welcome to wait in their cars when they arrive at the care center. Just call the front desk to let us know you have arrived, and we’ll call back when we’re ready for you to come in.
• Family Members: To reduce exposure, please do not bring family members with you to in-person visits.
• Masks: We ask all members to wear a mask when they visit the care center. Vivacity Care Center will provide a surgical mask for any patients who do not have a filtered mask.
• Waiting Room Changes: We’ve implemented enhanced cleaning practices, spaced out waiting room chairs and provided other signage to ensure social distancing. All books, magazines, and brochures have been removed. Plexiglass has been installed at the front desk to keep staff and patients safe.

A virtual appointment allows you to meet with your provider over video from the comfort of your home. If you’ve ever used FaceTime or Skype, this is exactly the same. Member cost shares are waived for all virtual appointments through June 30 for participating groups. Call the number on the back of your medical insurance card to see if a cost share applies.

If you experience any difficulties during your virtual appointment, please either tell us (if you can during your appointment) or call us at 509-228-3300.

Yes. Your provider can write you a prescription for most medicines or request additional testing (e.g. x-ray, lab tests) by sending it electronically to the pharmacy or lab of your choice.

All insurance plans work differently but most are allowing for earlier refills. Please call the number on the back of your medical insurance card to learn if you can refill your prescription early.

In order to prioritize appointments appropriately, online scheduling is unavailable. If you need to schedule a sick care appointment, please call us at 509-228-3300.

If you’ve had an initial visit at Vivacity Care Center, you can make a health coaching appointment any time, which will be held virtually.

You can only schedule a virtual appointment with a Vivacity Care Center behavioral health specialist if you already have a referral from a Vivacity Care Center provider. If you haven’t established care with a behavioral health specialist at Vivacity Care Center, contact customer service at the number on the back of your ID card for additional options.

If you are an existing patient, you can call the care center after-hours at 509-228-3300 to talk to a registered nurse. And if necessary, they will transfer you to an on-call Vivacity Care Center provider.

If you think you were exposed to COVID-19 or have fever or cough, please call Vivacity Care Center at 509-228-3300 or your primary care provider for testing or an evaluation.

To avoid possible spread, you should not go to a lab for testing without an order from your doctor. Do not go to the emergency room unless you are having a medical emergency.

You can always contact your provider at Vivacity Care Center. After discussing your symptoms, your provider may determine that you do not need to be tested for COVID-19. At this point, your doctor will help advise you on how to treat your symptoms from home, including taking medicine to reduce fever or other cold symptoms.

We know these are difficult times for many, and the worry about medical bills, especially as they relate to COVID-19, is great. To ease some of the burden, Premera Blue Cross and LifeWise Health Plan of Washington will be waiving cost shares including copays, deductibles, and coinsurance for all COVID-19 related testing and treatment.

This cost share waiver will continue through October 1, 2020. For Premera Medicare Advantage customers, regulators haven't communicated an end date for this flexibility.

A COVID-19 antibody test looks for signs of the body’s defensive response (“antibodies”) to a COVID-19 infection. In general, antibodies can be found in the blood of people who are tested after an infection of any kind, and show that they have had an immune response to the infection.

Important note: Immune response refers to the body’s immune system responding to an infection. It does not mean “immunity,” or safety from becoming infected again.

Not at this time, and there are two reasons why not.

First, an antibody test isn’t useful as a diagnostic tool. The best known, FDA-approved antibody test for COVID-19 will only show results after someone has been infected for about 10-14 days. In other words, it takes almost two weeks after a person has been infected to generate enough antibodies for an antibody test to detect them.

Second, it is still unknown whether the antibodies that result from SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) provide immunity from a future COVID-19 infection. CDC scientists are conducting studies to better understand the level of antibodies needed for protection, the duration of that protection, and the factors associated with whether a person develops a protective antibody response.

We will update these FAQs as more information is revealed.

We have a lot more to learn about COVID-19. However, it appears the virus spreads like other respiratory viruses – by people with the infection coughing and sneezing. These droplets are inhaled by other people or moved to the eyes, nose or mouth by contaminated hands.

The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus. Clean your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Stay home if you are feeling ill.

For all that you need to know, including travel advisories: cdc.gov/coronavirus

For specific questions, see the CDC’s FAQ section.

For information about COVID-19 in your state, search your state’s health department, which works with the CDC to monitor and implement all recommendations.