Medicare nearly doubles payment for high-throughput diagnostic tests
Medicare will increase payment for certain "high-throughput" COVID-19 diagnostic tests to $100 to expand testing capacity and speed results during the public health emergency, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced yesterday. The tests can process more than 200 specimens a day but require specially trained technicians and more time-intensive processes to assure quality. CMS expects the payment increase to allow laboratories to expand testing, particularly to vulnerable nursing home patients. Medicare administrative contractors previously paid about $51 for these clinical laboratory diagnostic tests under Medicare Part B.
Related News Articles
Headline
A KFF analysis released Jan. 28 found that Medicare Advantage insurers made nearly 53 million prior authorization determinations in 2024, an increase…
Headline
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Jan. 26 released proposed changes to Medicare Advantage plan capitation rates and Part D payment policies for…
Headline
The AHA Jan. 26 expressed support and provided its perspective on certain provisions within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ proposed…
Headline
The AHA Jan. 20 made recommendations to Congress on modernizing the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act. Among the proposals, the AHA recommended…
Headline
The comment period for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' proposed rule for policies governing the Medicare Advantage and Part D programs for…
Headline
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission Jan. 15 voted to recommend that Congress update Medicare payment rates for hospital inpatient and outpatient services…