On Wednesday, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the agency is directing another $4.8 billion to fund Covid-19 testing for uninsured patients through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Uninsured Portal.
Given that the program has provided $4 billion in reimbursements as of May 19, this latest round of funding should provide coverage for uninsured testing for the foreseeable future. The funding is being distributed as part of the American Rescue Plan stimulus package that was passed earlier this year.
Providers who submit claims for reimbursement through the portal are reimbursed at national Medicare rates. HHS estimates about 29 million Americans are uninsured.
A separate program, the HRSA COVID-19 Coverage Assistance Fund, is available to reimburse providers for vaccine administration to underinsured individuals whose health plan either does not include Covid-19 vaccination as a covered benefit, or requires cost-sharing for vaccine administration.