Wisconsin COVID-19 Treatment Telehealth Program Ends April 10

MADISON, Wis. (WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES PRESS RELEASE) - The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) reminds Wisconsinites that its COVID-19 Treatment program will end on April 10. The program, initially planned to end in 2023, was extended to April 2024 due to the success of the program and high cases of COVID-19 circulating at the time. Since it launched in November 2022, the program completed 8,819 consults, providing health guidance and access to COVID-19 antiviral treatments to people across Wisconsin at no cost.

“We’re extremely proud of the success of this program, which provided free telehealth service to thousands of Wisconsinites, especially older adults and people living in rural communities,” says DHS Deputy Secretary Deb Standridge. “Through the support of federal funding, we were able to extend this program’s operations for Wisconsinites. As the program ends, we urge Wisconsinites, to remember COVID-19 has not gone away. We now have better tools to protect, prevent, and ensure access to COVID-19 vaccination, testing, and treatment through your health care provider, community clinic, or pharmacy.”

According to the DHS weekly Respiratory Virus Surveillance Report, COVID-19 is currently circulating at low levels and transmission is decreasing.

After April 10, Wisconsinites can continue to access COVID-19 antiviral treatments through their health care provider, community clinic, or pharmacy. The cost of appointments and treatment will depend on their health insurance. People without health insurance or whose health insurance may not cover COVID-19 care may be eligible to seek treatment through Wisconsin’s ForwardHealth free or low-cost health clinics. If prescribed a COVID-19 therapeutic, patients with Medicare, Medicaid, and those who are uninsured can receive the treatment at no cost through the federal Patient Assistant Program (PAP) through December 31, 2024.

Patients with private insurance can utilize Pfizer’s PAXCESS patient support program to receive a voucher up to $1,500, which could reduce out-of-pocket costs to $0. Patients who have previously received care through the Wisconsin COVID-19 Treatment Telehealth Program with Color Health accounts can continue to view their after-visit summaries online.

Learn more about COVID-19 treatments. Find COVID-19 vaccine near you at Vaccines.gov.

PRESS RELEASE