We are excited to participate in a program launched by the Department of Human Health Services (HHS). This program is designed to reimburse healthcare providers and laboratories for providing COVID-19 testing to uninsured patients. This allows us to extend COVID-19 testing to patients without insurance. Our participation in the Uninsured Patient Program will be available for MainStreet Family Care patients seen on or after May 8, 2020. This will continue as long as program funding continues to be available.
Who is eligible for this program?
In order to be eligible, we must verify and attest that you do not have individual, employer-sponsored, Medicare, or Medicaid coverage. In addition, we must verify and attest that no other payer will reimburse us for COVID-19 testing and/or treatment for you. We can verify that you are eligible through the HRSA Uninsured Patient Program Portal.
How does this work for uninsured patients?
When you arrive, let the front desk know that you are here for COVID-19 testing and you do not have insurance. You will need to provide identification and the staff will check your eligibility in a new government online verification system. You will also need to provide a credit card to keep on file. Currently, the program will cover your office visit for testing and a COVID-19 viral swab testing. If you choose the rapid COVID-19 swab test, your visit will be covered and the rapid testing will be included in the cost of your visit. If you decide to get a COVID-19 antibody test, your visit will be covered, but LabCorp will bill you $100 for the antibody test.
Why do I need a credit or debit card?
The portal we use to check your eligibility indicates you are eligible. If you are eligible, the new program should cover the visit cost. We will submit your claim to the government’s new online payment system. In the event that the government closes the program or elements of the program are not honored by the government, you will be billed $125 to cover the cost of your visit and the cost of the rapid test. We will send you a notice that the government did not cover your claim. We would also allow you to make other payment arrangements if necessary. If you do not request a different payment arrangement, we will then charge your credit card $125.
We expect that this program will cover the full cost of both your visit and the lab cost. This seems to be the intent of the program. However, this program currently only covers the COVID-19 viral swab test. If you decide to get a COVID-19 antibody test, your visit will still be covered. However, LabCorp will bill you $100 for the antibody test. If you decide to get a rapid COVID-19 test, there is a chance that you will receive a $49 bill for the test. We are eager to take part in this program and make it available to you. In order to make it available as soon a possible, we need a path to cover the cost. This path will be used in the event this program does not work as intended 0r runs out of funding sooner than anticipated.
What if I do not have a credit or debit card?
Unfortunately, at this time we cannot provide COVID-19 testing office visits unless you are able and willing to participate in these guidelines. This includes putting a credit card on file.