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COVID-19 at-home fast take a look at kits are seen in Los Angeles on Jan. 7.
Mario Tama/Getty Pictures
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Mario Tama/Getty Pictures
COVID-19 at-home fast take a look at kits are seen in Los Angeles on Jan. 7.
Mario Tama/Getty Pictures
Medicare and Medicare Benefit recipients might be eligible at no cost over-the-counter COVID-19 assessments starting in early spring, the Biden administration introduced on Thursday.
The plan will permit for as much as eight assessments a month, the Facilities for Medicare & Medicaid Companies (CMS) stated in a media launch Thursday.
Medicare is the federal medical health insurance program for People aged 65 and older, some youthful People with disabilities and people with sure diseases.
“That is the primary time that Medicare has lined an over-the-counter take a look at for free of charge to beneficiaries,” CMS wrote within the launch.
“There are a selection of points which have made it troublesome to cowl and pay for over-the-counter COVID-19 assessments. Nevertheless, given the significance of increasing entry to testing, CMS has recognized a pathway that can broaden entry to free over-the-counter testing for Medicare beneficiaries.”
The Biden administration has confronted criticism for its dealing with of sure points of the pandemic, together with for its response to offering free, simply accessible testing for all People.
In response, the federal authorities introduced that starting earlier this yr, People would have the ability to request 4, free at-home assessments to be delivered on to their doorways. The administration bought a half-billion assessments to help that effort.
Biden has for months acknowledged the fatigue many COVID-weary People are feeling because the pandemic enters its third spring. However in his first formal press convention of the brand new yr, Biden admitted that his staff ought to have executed extra on testing sooner.
“This new initiative will allow cost from Medicare on to collaborating pharmacies and different collaborating entities to permit Medicare beneficiaries to select up assessments for free of charge. CMS anticipates that this selection might be accessible to individuals with Medicare within the early spring,” CMS stated.
People with non-public insurance coverage have been in a position to apply for reimbursement for assessments, as much as eight per individual, per thirty days, since final month.
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