• Listen Live NOW!
  • On Demand
  • Ways to Listen
  • All Shows
    • Radio Shows
      • 1st Talk Compliance
      • Conversations on Health Care
      • FINN Voices
      • Harlow on Healthcare
      • Healthcare De Jure
      • Healthcare IT Today
      • Health UnaBASHEd
      • News You Can Use
      • PopHealth Week
      • The Incrementalist
      • The Scope with Dr. K
      • The Tate Chronicles
      • The Virtual Shift
      • This Just In Radio Show
      • Trending NOW
      • Value-Based Care Insights
    • Podcast Shows
      • 4sight Health Roundup
      • Ambulatory Healthcare Today
      • AMCP Podcast Series – Listen Up
      • Ask the Educator
      • Beyond the Needle
      • Healthcare for Humans
      • Healthcare Rap
      • HealthLaw HotSpot
      • Hello Healthcare Podcast
      • In Network’s Podcast Feature: Designing for Health
      • Meeting of the Minds
      • The Brain Trust
      • The Digital Patient
      • The Handoff
    • Monthly Podcast Shows
      • Follow the Medical Record
      • Healthcare TechTalk with Brillio
      • Life-Centered Health Care
      • Tell Me Where IT Hurts
      • The Dish on Health IT
      • The Healthusiasm Podcast
      • Voices of Change
      • Voices of Self Funding
      • What’s My Tagline
  • Playlists
  • NursesNOW
    • Nursing News
      • Organizations
      • Podcasts
  • Conferences
  • Request Media Kit
  • Contact Us
Event Calendar
HealthcareNOWradio.comHealthcareNOWradio.com
  • Listen Live NOW!
  • On Demand
  • Ways to Listen
  • All Shows
    • Radio Shows
      • 1st Talk Compliance
      • Conversations on Health Care
      • FINN Voices
      • Harlow on Healthcare
      • Healthcare De Jure
      • Healthcare IT Today
      • Health UnaBASHEd
      • News You Can Use
      • PopHealth Week
      • The Incrementalist
      • The Scope with Dr. K
      • The Tate Chronicles
      • The Virtual Shift
      • This Just In Radio Show
      • Trending NOW
      • Value-Based Care Insights
    • Podcast Shows
      • 4sight Health Roundup
      • Ambulatory Healthcare Today
      • AMCP Podcast Series – Listen Up
      • Ask the Educator
      • Beyond the Needle
      • Healthcare for Humans
      • Healthcare Rap
      • HealthLaw HotSpot
      • Hello Healthcare Podcast
      • In Network’s Podcast Feature: Designing for Health
      • Meeting of the Minds
      • The Brain Trust
      • The Digital Patient
      • The Handoff
    • Monthly Podcast Shows
      • Follow the Medical Record
      • Healthcare TechTalk with Brillio
      • Life-Centered Health Care
      • Tell Me Where IT Hurts
      • The Dish on Health IT
      • The Healthusiasm Podcast
      • Voices of Change
      • Voices of Self Funding
      • What’s My Tagline
  • Playlists
  • NursesNOW
    • Nursing News
      • Organizations
      • Podcasts
  • Conferences
  • Request Media Kit
  • Contact Us

Administration Will Cover Free Over-the-Counter COVID-19 Tests Through Medicare

Feb 4, 2022 | Posted by Industry News | HHS Agencies News |

CMS Developing Initiative to Enable Access to Eight Free Over-the-Counter COVID-19 Tests for Medicare Beneficiaries in Early Spring

As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing efforts to expand Americans’ access to free testing, people in either Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage will be able to get over-the-counter COVID-19 tests at no cost starting in early spring. Under the new initiative, Medicare beneficiaries will be able to access up to eight over-the-counter COVID-19 tests per month for free. Tests will be available through eligible pharmacies and other participating entities. This policy will apply to COVID-19 over-the-counter tests approved or authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

This is the first time that Medicare has covered an over-the-counter test at no cost to beneficiaries. There are a number of issues that have made it difficult to cover and pay for over-the-counter COVID-19 tests. However, given the importance of expanding access to testing, CMS has identified a pathway that will expand access to free over-the-counter testing for Medicare beneficiaries. This new initiative will enable payment from Medicare directly to participating pharmacies and other participating entities to allow Medicare beneficiaries to pick up tests at no cost. CMS anticipates that this option will be available to people with Medicare in the early spring.

Until then, people with Medicare can access free tests through a number of channels established by the Biden-Harris Administration. Medicare beneficiaries can:

  • Request four free over-the-counter tests for home delivery at covidtests.gov.
  • Access COVID-19 tests through healthcare providers at over 20,000 free testing sites nationwide. A list of community-based testing sites can be found here.
  • Access lab-based PCR tests and antigen tests performed by a laboratory when the test is ordered by a physician, non-physician practitioner, pharmacist, or other authorized health care professional at no cost. In addition to accessing a COVID-19 lab test ordered by a health care professional, people with Medicare can also already access one lab-performed test without an order, also without cost sharing, during the public health emergency.

In addition:

  • Medicare Advantage plans may offer coverage and payment for over-the-counter COVID-19 tests as a supplemental benefit in addition to covering Medicare Part A and Part B benefits, so Medicare beneficiaries covered by Medicare Advantage should check with their plan to see if it includes such a benefit.
  • All Medicare beneficiaries with Part B are eligible for the new benefit, whether enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan or not.

To view more information, please see these Frequently Asked Questions.

 

Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on linkedin
Linkedin
Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on pinterest
Pinterest
Share on reddit
Reddit
Share on email
Email
Share this...
Tags: CMSCOVID-19Medicare

Radio for the Healthcare Industry

No HTML5 audio playback capabilities for this browser. Use Chrome Browser!

Categories

Get our News Digest

Get Our News Digest


Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

.

About HealthcareNOWRadio.com

HealthcareNOWradio.com is an Internet radio station operated and produced as part of Answers Media Network. The station offers interviews, and commentary from industry leaders in healthcare and health information technology, as well as originally produced programming hosted by industry leaders. Listen on any device 24/7. You can also subscribe to get notification when a new show airs.

Sign Up for Our e-News Digest

Get notified when a new show airs or when your favorites are available as podcasts. Sign up here

Our News Media Site

Connect with Us

Contact Us

Contact a Host

Media Kit

Listening Guide

 

Follow Us

Upcoming Conferences

Sep 27
September 27 - September 28

Digital Engagement & Experience Summit

Houston
Oct 3
October 3 - October 5

HITRUST Collaborate 2023

Grapevine
Oct 4
October 4 - October 6

BioFuture

New York
View Calendar

©2023 Answers Media Company, LLC

  • Healthcare NOW Radio Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Our Privacy Policy
  • Our Guests and Recording Policy
Prev Next