Photo Courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
“Required coverage of testing ordered by a physician, expansion of free testing sites through pharmacies and community health centers, and free at-home rapid tests available through COVIDTests.gov or 1-800-232-0233 are big steps forward, including for seniors,” the senators wrote in their letter to the Biden administration.
By Forum Staff
Nineteen U.S. senators—including Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.)—on Tuesday sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services urging them to require Medicare to pay for rapid COVID tests. The letter follows the administration’s recent guidance requiring private insurance companies to cover the cost of up to eight rapid over-the-counter COVID tests per month. Extending this requirement to Medicare would ensure that an additional 61 million Americans enrolled in Medicare and Medicare Advantage, including those at highest risk of severe illness, have equal access to testing amidst a surge in COVID cases and hospitalizations across the country.
Photo Courtesy of Sen. Gillibrand
“As cities and towns across the state continue to battle the Omicron variant, we must ensure that everyone has free and easy access to testing—not just those with private insurance,” Sen. Gillibrand, seen here with President Joe Biden, said.
“Required coverage of testing ordered by a physician, expansion of free testing sites through pharmacies and community health centers, and free at-home rapid tests available through COVIDTests.gov or 1-800-232-0233 are big steps forward, including for seniors,” the senators wrote. “Recent CMS guidance requiring coverage of eight over-the-counter at-home tests per person per month will significantly expand access to millions of Americans with commercial health insurance. However, those enrolled in original Medicare and private Medicare Advantage plans do not have this same access. Seniors and people with disabilities enrolled in Medicare are at the highest risk of severe illness from COVID-19, and people over 65 account for nearly three-quarters of all deaths from the virus. The current policy leaves them on the hook for potentially significant out-of-pocket costs.”
“Right now, millions of New Yorkers enrolled in Medicare can’t get coverage for rapid COVID tests,” Gillibrand said. “As cities and towns across the state continue to battle the Omicron variant, we must ensure that everyone has free and easy access to testing—not just those with private insurance. I urge the Biden administration to immediately expand its guidance to require Medicare to cover the cost of over-the-counter COVID tests for all beneficiaries.”
