S 3499 116th Congress Senate Health Appropriations Cardiovascular and respiratory health Child health Department of Health and Human Services Disaster relief and insurance Emergency medical services and trauma care Employee benefits and pensions Executive agency funding and structure Health care costs and insurance Health care coverage and access Health programs administration and funding Health technology, devices, supplies Indian social and development programs Infectious and parasitic diseases Medicaid Medical tests and diagnostic methods Medicare Minority health State and local finance

Free COVID–19 Testing Act

Introduced: March 12, 2020 Introduced by: Smith, Tina Democratic · Minnesota See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Mar 12, 2020

Introduced in Senate

Mar 12, 2020

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Free COVID–19 Testing Act

This bill requires specified public health care programs and private health insurance to cover testing for COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) without imposing cost-sharing (e.g., deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments) for the duration of the public health emergency declared on January 31, 2020. This coverage includes the cost of administering such approved tests and related visits to health care providers.

Specifically, these requirements apply to COVID-19 testing and office visits for individuals covered through (1) Medicare, (2) Medicare Advantage, (3) Medicaid, (4) the Children's Health Insurance Program, (5) the Department of Defense (i.e., TRICARE), (6) the Department of Veterans Affairs, (7) the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, or (8) the Indian Health Service. Additionally, state Medicaid programs may cover COVID-19 testing and related visits for uninsured individuals during the emergency, and the Department of Health and Human Services must reimburse laboratories for the cost of such tests.

What's happening now March 12, 2020

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Committees of jurisdiction 1