CMS clarifies when health plans must cover COVID-19 tests; FDA authorizes new at-home test
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services clarifying federal requirements for health plans to cover certain items and services related to diagnostic testing for COVID-19 without cost-sharing, prior authorization or other medical management requirements.
The guidance also includes information on federal reimbursement for COVID-19-related services provided to the uninsured.
In other news, the Food and Drug Administration today issued an for the Quidel QuickVue At-Home COVID-19 Test, a prescription antigen test that allows individuals to collect and test a sample at home when their health care provider suspects they have COVID-19 within six days of symptom onset.
The EUA requires Quidel to develop a mobile phone application or website to facilitate results reporting by the user and health care provider. A research team funded by the National Institutes of Health has launched a to assess the app’s performance and usability.