The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced Thursday that Medicare would cover free over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 tests beginning early this spring.
Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries will be able to access as many as eight OTC COVID-19 tests per month for free through eligible pharmacies and other participants. The policy will apply to tests approved or authorized by the Food and Drug Administration .
"This is the first time that Medicare has covered an over-the-counter test at no cost to beneficiaries. There are a number of issues that have made it difficult to cover and pay for over-the-counter COVID-19 tests. However, given the importance of expanding access to testing, CMS has identified a pathway that will expand access to free over-the-counter testing for Medicare beneficiaries," the CMS said in a news release.
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