Larger Payments for Labs Producing Faster COVID-19 Results

CMS incentivizes labs to complete high throughput COVID-19 tests quicker

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced starting January 1, 2021, Medicare will pay $100 to laboratories that complete high throughput COVID-19 diagnostic tests within two calendar days of the specimen being collected. Also effective January 1, 2021, for laboratories that take longer than two days to complete these tests, Medicare will pay $75.

COVID-19: Insurers Exempt from Covering Workplace Testing

Must Cover “Medically Appropriate” Tests Only

The rapid rollout in March of the federal FFCRA (Families First Coronavirus Response Act) and CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act) Acts – and specifically section 6001 of the FFCRA, which defines requirements for insurers – has left providers, labs and insurers uncertain, at times, of their respective responsibilities for COVID-19 testing.