April 04, 2022
Nearly 60 million seniors with Medicare coverage can now receive up to eight free COVID-19 home tests from pharmacies and other providers starting this month, the Biden administration announced today.
This is the first time in Medicare’s history that the program will cover an over-the-counter, self-administered test at no cost to beneficiaries, officials said. The administration said 59 million Americans with Medicare Part B—including those enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan—now have access to U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved, authorized, or cleared over-the-counter COVID-19 tests at no cost.
“This is all part of our overall strategy to ramp up access to easy-to-use, at-home tests free of charge,” U.S Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement.
Here’s what you need to know about the new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) initiative:
CMS officials recommend Medicare beneficiaries contact their pharmacy or health care provider to find out whether they are participating in the program. The tests will be available for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency, officials said.
Additional information about today’s announcement is available online. A fact sheet with details also is available.
Pharmacies and other health care providers interested in participating in this initiative can get more information online.
Tags: Public Health | Medicare | COVID-19
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