GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Due to lack of sufficient funds, the Health Resources and Services Administration will stop accepting claims for COVID testing for uninsured patients, unless the government allocates more money to cover the costs.
The Senate has reportedly reached a deal, but the bill still needs to pass Congress.
According to Quest Diagnostics, one of the largest testing labs in the country, that means uninsured individuals could be paying upwards of $100 out-of-pocket for a PCR test.
However, if you’re getting tested at Prevea Health, you’re covered for a bit longer. Prevea is part of a state grant program which will continue covering costs.
“Luckily, the state of Wisconsin has continued its grant program with different testing people throughout this state to continue to have a payment source for anybody who has insurance, or doesn’t have insurance through the middle of summer,” Prevea Health President and CEO Dr. Ashok Rai said.
Bellin Health says it will hold charges for uninsured individuals for now.
In a statement, a spokesperson says, “We are aware of discussion at the federal level to address the funding shortfall. Therefore, at this time we are neither writing these charges off nor are we billing patients for these services. Instead, we are holding these charges until final resolution by the federal government.”
Rai says we are still in pandemic mode, and we continue to see the virus mutate.
“Having testing paid for for everybody in the country is very important. It’s a national health priority to control this pandemic so it has to be a national health financing priority to be honest with you,” Rai said.
Nearly 30 million Americans do not have health insurance.
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