Column: Coronavirus tests are supposed to be free. But there’s a nasty loophole in the law
3 years, 4 months ago

Column: Coronavirus tests are supposed to be free. But there’s a nasty loophole in the law

LA Times  

Two federal laws specify that people shouldn’t be charged for coronavirus tests. “You would need to connect with the patient’s insurance carrier to determine why they have opted not to cover the lab fees,” said Joseph Goode, a spokesperson for the pharmacy chain. In a recent report titled “Price Gouging in a Public Health Crisis,” America’s Health Insurance Plans, an industry group, said that “health insurance providers proactively eliminated patient cost-sharing for COVID-19 diagnostic testing and treatment.” But it said a growing number of medical providers are relying on labs outside the coverage networks of leading insurers, and that many of these facilities are charging more than the average in-network $130 cost of processing a coronavirus test. It called on Congress to “eliminate the ability for price gouging to occur by setting a reasonable market-based pricing benchmark for tests delivered out of network.” Yeah, that’s one way to do it. As far as coronavirus tests are concerned, Jason Doctor, a professor of public policy at USC, said lawmakers didn’t think through the consequences of test providers using labs outside insurers’ networks.

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History of this topic

Free at-home COVID tests, delivered by mail, ending this week
2 years, 4 months ago

Free at-home COVID tests, delivered by mail, ending this week

LA Times  

Boxes of iHealth COVID-19 antigen rapid test kits, provided by the state of California, are ready for parents to pick up at Tulita Elementary School in Redondo Beach on Jan. 6. Suspending the offering, which the COVID.gov website says is “because Congress hasn’t provided additional funding to replenish the nation’s stockpile,” will remove one convenient testing option even as federal …

Despite rising cases, free coronavirus testing is reduced in L.A. County
2 years, 9 months ago

Despite rising cases, free coronavirus testing is reduced in L.A. County

LA Times  

Despite an increase in coronavirus cases, the availability of free testing sites has been reduced due to the stalemate in Washington over approving new COVID-19 pandemic funding. As a result, L.A. County has been forced to remove 25 community testing sites from the county’s website, “as those sites were no longer able to continue to commit to providing tests free …

Free Covid tests distributed by White House may not be considered valid for travel
2 years, 11 months ago

Free Covid tests distributed by White House may not be considered valid for travel

Daily Mail  

Dr David Weber, an epidemiologist at UNC-Chapel Hill, said that at-home tests distributed by the Biden administration may not be usable for travel requirements Free home COVID tests funded by Joe Biden will likely not be approved to get around existing travel rules because it is too easy to fake a negative result, a health expert has warned. Dr David …

Doctors slam Psaki for mocking idea of mailing free at-home COVID tests to all Americans
3 years, 1 month ago

Doctors slam Psaki for mocking idea of mailing free at-home COVID tests to all Americans

Daily Mail  

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has found herself on the receiving end of an avalanche of furious tweets from medical professionals and researchers, who panned her for deriding the idea of mailing free at-home COVID tests to every American. Liasson inquired of Psaki why the US was lagging behind other countries, including Germany, the UK and South Korea, in …

Access testing will no longer be free in an attempt to encourage Covid vaccination
3 years, 4 months ago

Access testing will no longer be free in an attempt to encourage Covid vaccination

NL Times  

Access testing will not be offered free of charge in the future, the Cabinet stated during the press conference on Friday. “We want to step away from the free tests”, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said during the press conference. “That makes it less attractive to not get vaccinated.” Mandatory vaccination is not on the table, for now, the Cabinet said. …

Coronavirus tests for holidaymakers will cost €350m, ministers say
3 years, 7 months ago

Coronavirus tests for holidaymakers will cost €350m, ministers say

Dutch News  

Giving free coronavirus tests to holidaymakers who have not been vaccinated or had a second dose will cost up to €350m and there are many doubts about how to put the plan into practice, health minister Hugo de Jonge and infrastructure minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen have told MPs. One option would be to allow travel organisations to deal with the …

Court backs coronavirus tests for travel to NL from risky countries
3 years, 7 months ago

Court backs coronavirus tests for travel to NL from risky countries

Dutch News  

Everyone who wants to travel to the Netherlands from an area considered to be risky will still have to show a negative PCR and fast test result before travelling, appeal court judges in The Hague said on Tuesday. It now seems that one dose of the vaccine will be enough to allow people to travel freely within the EU, broadcaster …

Court backs coronavirus tests for travel to NL from risky countries
3 years, 7 months ago

Court backs coronavirus tests for travel to NL from risky countries

Dutch News  

Everyone who wants to travel to the Netherlands from an area considered to be risky will still have to show a negative PCR and fast test result before travelling, appeal court judges in The Hague said on Tuesday. It now seems that one dose of the vaccine will be enough to allow people to travel freely within the EU, broadcaster …

She Went To The ER To Try To Get A Coronavirus Test And Ended Up $1,840 In Debt
4 years, 6 months ago

She Went To The ER To Try To Get A Coronavirus Test And Ended Up $1,840 In Debt

NPR  

She Went To The ER To Try To Get A Coronavirus Test And Ended Up $1,840 In Debt Enlarge this image toggle caption ER Productions Limited/Getty Images ER Productions Limited/Getty Images Carmen Quintero works an early shift at a distribution warehouse that ships N95 masks and other products to a nation under siege from the coronavirus. Sponsor Message Total bill: …

Insurers May Only Pay For Coronavirus Tests When They're 'Medically Necessary'
4 years, 6 months ago

Insurers May Only Pay For Coronavirus Tests When They're 'Medically Necessary'

NPR  

Insurers May Only Pay For Coronavirus Tests When They're 'Medically Necessary' Enlarge this image toggle caption Carolyn Kaster/AP Carolyn Kaster/AP In the wake of the massive turnout at anti-racism demonstrations around the country, public health officials are encouraging protesters to get tested for the coronavirus. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act passed by Congress requires health plans to fully pay …

Identify Private Hospitals Where Cost-Effective/Free Treatment For COVID-19 Can Be Done : SC Tells Centre
4 years, 7 months ago

Identify Private Hospitals Where Cost-Effective/Free Treatment For COVID-19 Can Be Done : SC Tells Centre

Live Law  

The Supreme Court on Wednesday took up for hearing a plea seeking nationwide cost related regulations for treatment of Coronavirus patients at private and corporate hospitals. A bench of Chief Justice SA Bobde, Justices AS Bopanna & Hrishikesh Roy directed the Centre to identify a list of those hospitals where minimum or free of cost treatment can be done for …

How coronavirus testing fumbles squandered valuable time
4 years, 8 months ago

How coronavirus testing fumbles squandered valuable time

CNN  

CNN — As coronavirus test kits were malfunctioning in public health labs across the country, Dr. Robert Redfield repeatedly assured his fellow task force officials in February that the problem would be quickly solved. Any insinuation that he didn’t is “just plain wrong and disproven by the facts.” A CDC spokesman said Redfield did not offer any assurances about how …

Coronavirus | Private labs begin offering free COVID-19 testing
4 years, 8 months ago

Coronavirus | Private labs begin offering free COVID-19 testing

The Hindu  

Some private labs have said they were offering free testing for COVID-19 as per the Supreme Court directive on Wednesday. Every test costs the government ₹4,500 and 67 private labs authorised by the ICMR across the country were charging the same until the Supreme Court order, which had also directed the government to issue guidelines. However for private labs, there …

Don’t have ‘wherewithal’ to do COVID-19 tests free of cost: private labs
4 years, 8 months ago

Don’t have ‘wherewithal’ to do COVID-19 tests free of cost: private labs

The Hindu  

With the Supreme Court directing that private labs should conduct coronavirus tests free of cost, many laboratories expect the government to “come up with modalities” so that they can sustain testing facilities in the wake of burgeoning demand in the country. Agreeing with Mr. Dang, Dr. A. Velumani, Chairman and Managing Director of Thyrocare Technologies Ltd, is of the opinion …

Coronavirus | COVID-19 tests must be done free, orders Supreme Court
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus | COVID-19 tests must be done free, orders Supreme Court

The Hindu  

Tests relating to COVID-19, whether done in approved government or private laboratories, shall be free of cost, the Supreme Court ordered on Wednesday. A Bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and S. Ravindra Bhat held that tests relating to COVID-19 must be carried out only in NABL accredited Labs or any agencies approved by the WHO or the ICMR. The order …

Coronavirus: Private clinic defends charging £375 for test
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus: Private clinic defends charging £375 for test

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A private …

Bipartisan virus relief bill: Free testing, paid sick leave
4 years, 9 months ago

Bipartisan virus relief bill: Free testing, paid sick leave

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Democratic-controlled House, with President Donald Trump’s support, early Saturday passed a bill to provide free testing for the coronavirus, as well as paid sick and family leave, strengthened unemployment insurance and increased food aid to ease the hardship on families. It would require paid leave for workers who contract the virus or who care for those who …

Opinion: Early Coronavirus Testing Failures Will Cost Lives
4 years, 9 months ago

Opinion: Early Coronavirus Testing Failures Will Cost Lives

NPR  

Opinion: Early Coronavirus Testing Failures Will Cost Lives Enlarge this image toggle caption Ted S. Warren/AP Ted S. Warren/AP The other night, I had a patient in the ER where I work come in with fever, cough and shortness of breath. After the first confirmed case appeared in the United States on Jan. 20, scientists in Seattle who had been …

Trump scrambles to broaden coronavirus testing options
4 years, 9 months ago

Trump scrambles to broaden coronavirus testing options

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration scrambled Friday to broaden testing for the coronavirus with a flurry of new measures, and public confusion persisted over who should be tested and how to get checked for the disease. The moves come a day after one of the government’s top health officials called the initial testing effort “a failing” and health care professionals, …

Fact check: Trump incorrectly suggests insurers will make coronavirus treatment free
4 years, 9 months ago

Fact check: Trump incorrectly suggests insurers will make coronavirus treatment free

CNN  

CNN — President Donald Trump sowed more confusion over coronavirus testing and treatment in his Wednesday night Oval Office address, when he indicated that coronavirus patients could have treatment – which could run into thousands of dollars for those seriously ill – at no charge. The White House quickly clarified the President’s remarks, saying Trump meant to echo Vice President …

Coronavirus test: confusion over availability and criteria is leaving sick people wondering if they’re infected
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus test: confusion over availability and criteria is leaving sick people wondering if they’re infected

CNN  

CNN — A group of first responders in Washington state, a scientist in California, a woman at an assisted living facility in Florida – all worried because they believe they might have novel coronavirus but say they can’t get tested. Their stories came into CNN’s tip line even as Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday told CNN’s morning show, “New …

Officials And Insurers Are Pushing To Make Coronavirus Testing Free
4 years, 10 months ago

Officials And Insurers Are Pushing To Make Coronavirus Testing Free

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING State government officials and insurance companies are now pushing to make sure people who need to be tested for the coronavirus aren’t put off by the cost as the illness continues to spread around the country. Also on board with free testing is America’s Health Insurance Plans, a major insurance trade group, which announced Thursday that its …

Column: Government can’t order insurers to cover the coronavirus for free. Here’s why
4 years, 10 months ago

Column: Government can’t order insurers to cover the coronavirus for free. Here’s why

LA Times  

President Trump at a coronavirus briefing Feb. 29 with, from left, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci, Vice President Mike Pence, CDC Director Robert Redfield and Surgeon General Jerome Adams. — Nicholas Bagley, University of Michigan The assurances made by insurers such as Cigna and Aetna, states including Washington, New York and California, and the Trump …

Chaos at hospitals due to shortage of coronavirus testing
4 years, 10 months ago

Chaos at hospitals due to shortage of coronavirus testing

LA Times  

A researcher works in a lab that is developing a test for the coronavirus last week in Nutley, N.J. As COVID-19 cases spike, the testing needed to help stem the spread of the disease remains below what is needed to address the growing crisis, with healthcare workers across the state reporting widespread failings in the response by local and federal …

California demands insurers cover cost of coronavirus testing and screenings
4 years, 10 months ago

California demands insurers cover cost of coronavirus testing and screenings

LA Times  

Gavin Newsom said in a statement: “This action means that Californians who fit the testing requirements can receive the test at no cost.” Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara on Thursday announced that they were ordering all public and commercial insurance plans to cover the entire cost of testing for the coronavirus and medically necessary screening. When …

How and when you should be tested for the coronavirus
4 years, 10 months ago

How and when you should be tested for the coronavirus

CNN  

CNN — Vice President Mike Pence on March 3 said that any American, with a doctor’s order, can now be tested for coronavirus. CDC’s website currently advises people: “Call your healthcare professional if you feel sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19, or if you live in …

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