Blumenthal Calls on Medicare to Cover At-Home COVID-19 Tests
Medicare patients, including seniors and people with disabilities, were left out of recent agency guidelines requiring health insurer coverage of at-home rapid tests
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) called on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to cover all FDA authorized over-the-counter at-home rapid tests for its beneficiaries. Medicare provides health insurance coverage to more than 61 million people in the United States, including seniors and people with disabilities.
“I write today calling on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to immediately issue regulations or guidance providing full Medicare coverage of all FDA authorized over-the-counter (OTC) at-home rapid tests,” wrote Blumenthal to CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “Doing so is critical to expanding access to free diagnostic tests, curbing the spread of COVID-19, and protecting Medicare beneficiaries.”
Earlier this month, updated federal guidance approved coverage of 32 FDA-authorized over-the-counter at-home tests per month by private health insurers and plans. However, Medicare patients were specifically left out of this coverage authorization, and their at-home rapid tests remain not covered.
“Medicare covers some of the most vulnerable individuals in our country, including many who are at highest risk of developing severe COVID-19 infections,” Blumenthal continued. “They not only need, but deserve, increased access to at-home testing to protect themselves and others.”
The full text of the letter can be found here.
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