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HR 8496 116th Congress House

SPEEDY COVID-19 Tests Act

Official title: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to revise payment amounts for results of COVID-19 PCR diagnostic panels, to require laboratories to furnish the… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to revise payment amounts for results of COVID-19 PCR diagnostic panels, to require laboratories to furnish the results of such panels within 28 days as a condition of participation under such title, and for other purposes.

Introduced: October 1, 2020 Introduced by: Sherrill, Mikie Democrat · New Jersey See on congress.gov
Health Cardiovascular and respiratory healthEmergency medical services and trauma careHealth care coverage and accessHealth facilities and institutions
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Infectious and parasitic diseasesMedical tests and diagnostic methodsMedicareRural conditions and development
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 1, 2020
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Oct 1, 2020
Introduced in House
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 Latest action October 1, 2020

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Strictly Pay for Efficient and Expedited Delivery of Your COVID-19 Tests Act or the SPEEDY COVID-19 Tests Act

This bill establishes and otherwise modifies requirements relating to Medicare payments for specified laboratory diagnostic tests during the public health emergency relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).

In particular, the bill requires laboratories, as a condition of Medicare participation, to furnish COVID-19 test results to health care providers within 28 days of when the test was ordered. The bill also adjusts payments based on how quickly laboratories return test results. For example, the bill increases payments for laboratories that return test results within 24 hours, but prohibits payment for results that take 72 hours or longer.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 7
All 7 Democratic 6
D
Davis, Danny K.
Illinois · Oct 1, 2020
 D
DelBene, Suzan K.
Washington · Oct 1, 2020
ENGEL, ELIOT
· Oct 1, 2020
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Oct 1, 2020
 D
Sewell, Terri A.
Alabama · Oct 1, 2020
 D
Suozzi, Thomas R.
New York · Oct 1, 2020
 D
Thompson, Bennie G.
Mississippi · Oct 1, 2020
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 8496: SPEEDY COVID-19 Tests Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-8496/
MLA
"H.R. 8496: SPEEDY COVID-19 Tests Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-8496/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 8496, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-8496/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 8496: SPEEDY COVID-19 Tests Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-8496/)
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