Biden-Harris Administration Announces a New Way for Medicare Beneficiaries to Get Free Over-the-Counter COVID-19 Tests
The Biden-Harris Administration is announcing these days that additional than 59 million People with Medicare Portion B, which includes all those enrolled in a Medicare Gain system, now have accessibility to Food and Drug Administration (Food and drug administration) accredited, approved, or cleared over-the-counter COVID-19 checks at no charge. Persons with Medicare can get up to eight checks for every calendar thirty day period from collaborating pharmacies and overall health treatment companies for the period of the COVID-19 public well being crisis.
“With today’s announcement, we are growing access to totally free over-the-counter COVID-19 screening for folks with Medicare Portion B, which includes people enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. Folks with Medicare Section B will now have entry to up to 8 Food and drug administration-permitted, licensed or cleared above-the-counter COVID-19 tests for each thirty day period at no expense. This is all element of our overall strategy to ramp -up entry to quick-to-use, at-dwelling exams no cost of cost,” mentioned HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Since we took business office, we have far more than tripled the variety of sites exactly where people can get COVID-19 assessments for free of charge, and we’re also offering shut to 250 million at-residence, immediate tests to mail for absolutely free to Us citizens who will need them. Underneath the Biden-Harris Administration’s leadership, we demanded point out Medicaid applications, insurers and group well being strategies to make tests no cost for tens of millions of Individuals. With today’s move, we are even further increasing health insurance protection of cost-free more than-the-counter assessments to Medicare beneficiaries, like our nation’s aged and people with disabilities.”
This is the to start with time that Medicare has included an around-the-counter self-administered test at no value to beneficiaries. This new initiative allows payment from Medicare specifically to collaborating qualified pharmacies and other wellness care providers to make it possible for Medicare beneficiaries to obtain tests at no charge, in addition to the two sets of four absolutely free at-home COVID-19 exams Us citizens can continue to buy from covidtests.gov. Nationwide pharmacy chains are participating in this initiative, like: Albertsons Businesses, Inc., Costco Pharmacy, CVS, Food Lion, Large Food stuff, The Giant Enterprise, Hannaford Pharmacies, H-E-B Pharmacy, Hy-Vee Pharmacy, Kroger Loved ones of Pharmacies, Rite Aid Corp., Store & End, Walgreens and Walmart.
“Testing remains a critical software in mitigating the unfold of COVID-19, and we are dedicated to making positive individuals with Medicare have the tools they have to have to continue to be safe and sound and healthy,” stated Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Products and services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “By launching this initiative, the Biden-Harris Administration carries on to display that we are executing almost everything doable to make around-the-counter COVID-19 tests free of charge and available for millions much more Us citizens.”
Companies and suppliers eligible to participate incorporate specific styles of pharmacies and other wellness care suppliers who are enrolled in Medicare and ready to furnish ambulatory wellbeing treatment expert services these types of as preventive vaccines, COVID-19 testing and regular healthcare visits. To make sure that men and women with Medicare have access to these assessments, Medicare is not demanding taking part qualified pharmacies and overall health treatment vendors go through any new Medicare enrollment procedures. If a health and fitness treatment provider now provides ambulatory overall health care providers these kinds of as vaccines, lab exams or other clinic type visits to men and women with Medicare, then they are suitable to participate in this initiative.
“For the first time in its historical past, Medicare is paying for an about-the-counter examination,” explained Deputy Administrator Dr. Meena Seshamani, Director of the Centre for Medicare at CMS. “This is for the reason that COVID-19 screening is a vital component of our pandemic reaction. Blended with the cost-free over-the-counter checks offered by covidtests.gov, this initiative will significantly improve screening obtain for Americans most susceptible to COVID-19 and will supply beneficial information and facts for long term payment policy supporting available, comprehensive, person-centered wellbeing treatment.”
A listing of qualified pharmacies and other wellbeing treatment providers that have dedicated publicly to participate in this initiative can be found listed here. Mainly because added suitable pharmacies and health care vendors may perhaps also participate, individuals with Medicare should look at with their pharmacy or well being care company to discover out whether or not they are participating.
This initiative adds to present selections for folks with Medicare to obtain COVID-19 screening, including:
- Requesting no cost above-the-counter exams for residence shipping and delivery at covidtests.gov. Every single property in the U.S. is suitable to buy two sets of four at-household COVID-19 tests.
- Obtain to no-cost COVID-19 checks by means of wellbeing care providers at around 20,000 screening web pages nationwide. A checklist of neighborhood-dependent screening websites can be found here.
- Access to lab-based PCR exams and antigen assessments carried out by a laboratory when the take a look at is requested by a health practitioner, non-physician practitioner, pharmacist, or other approved health and fitness care professional at no value by Medicare.
- In addition to accessing a COVID-19 laboratory check ordered by a wellbeing treatment specialist, folks with Medicare can also access one particular lab-done examination with no an order and value-sharing all through the community health unexpected emergency.
For additional info, you should see this point sheet https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/reality-sheets/medicare-covers-in excess of-counter-covid-19-exams
People with Medicare can get further info by speaking to 1-800-MEDICARE and going to: https://www.medicare.gov/medicare-coronavirus. Medicare also maintains numerous resources to support assure beneficiaries acquire the appropriate positive aspects even though also avoiding the probable for fraud or frauds. Extra details—particularly on determining cons thanks to COVID-19—can be found at https://www.medicare.gov/fundamental principles/reporting-medicare-fraud-and-abuse.
Pharmacies and other well being treatment providers interested in taking part in this initiative can get far more information and facts in this article: https://www.cms.gov/COVIDOTCtestsProvider