To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the National Disaster Medical System, to provide for certain laboratory reimbursement for diagnostic testing for COVID-19 in uninsured individuals.

Bill: 116-hr-6232
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Cárdenas, Tony [D-CA-29]
Introduced: 2020-03-12
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Appropriations

Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Department of Health and Human Services

Disaster relief and insurance

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Executive agency funding and structure

Health care costs and insurance

Health care coverage and access

Health programs administration and funding

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Latest action: action_date: 2020-03-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-03-12
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill provides appropriations&nbsp;for the Department&nbsp;of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reimburse, through the&nbsp;National Disaster Medical System, the costs of providing COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) diagnostic testing and services to individuals without health insurance. This system is a coordinated effort by HHS, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, working in collaboration with states and other appropriate public or private entities, that provides health services, health-related social services, and other appropriate services to respond to the needs of victims of a public health emergency. </p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6232 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 12, 2020 Mr. Cárdenas (for himself, Ms. Sánchez , and Mr. Castro of Texas ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the National Disaster Medical System, to provide for certain laboratory reimbursement for diagnostic testing for COVID–19 in uninsured individuals.

1. Reimbursement for diagnostic testing for Covid–19 in uninsured individuals (a) Reimbursement Through the National Disaster Medical System under section 2812 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300hh–11 ), and in coordination with the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, subject to the availability of appropriations under subsection (c), pay the claims of laboratories for reimbursement, as described in subsection (a)(3)(D) of such section 2812, for health services consisting of diagnostic testing to detect or diagnose COVID–19 in uninsured individuals. The amount that will be paid shall be equal to the amount that would have been paid to a physician or laboratory under Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule under section 1833(h)(8) of the Social Security Act. (b) Definition In this section, the term uninsured individual means an individual who is not enrolled in— (1) a Federal health care program (as defined under section 1128B(f) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a–7b(f))); or (2) a group health plan or health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer in the group or individual market (as such terms are defined in section 2791 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300gg–91 )) or a health plan offered under chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code. (c) Funding To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated, and there is hereby appropriated, out of amounts in the Treasury not otherwise obligated, $1,000,000,000, to remain available until expended.