Medicare Now Covers Coronavirus Testing

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Medicare is now offering to pay for coronavirus testing.

There is no vaccine available for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, the disease that has affected more than 90,000 people worldwide with flu-like, respiratory illness. But Medicare is now offering to pay for testing in the U.S., the company said Tuesday.

Georgia residents can qualify for Medicare Part B if they are 65 years or older and a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident lawfully residing in the U.S for at least five continuous years.

Sen. Ben Watson, who is on the governor’s coronavirus task force, told GPB News earlier this week the state health department will receive test kits by the end of the week. This means turnaround time for testing should be improved, Watson said.

Currently, the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention takes approximately five days to report the results of test kits. 

There are criteria established by the CDC for who should be tested for COVID-19, DPH spokeswoman Nancy Nydam said.

People who think they may have or may have been exposed to COVID-19 should call their healthcare provider or local health department before going to any provider’s office, emergency department or urgent care clinic in search of a test.

MORE: Kemp Confirms 2 Coronavirus Cases In Georgia

There are two cases in Fulton County of COVID-19. A 56-year-old man who traveled to Italy and his son tested positive, Gov. Brian Kemp said Monday. Both family members are quarantined in their home and have experienced only mild symptoms of the disease.

The man's wife and another son are also being tested for COVID-19, officials said Tuesday.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Wednesday additional support in preparing for the spread of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, including:

• An initial $25 million cooperative agreement to the states and cities and towns which have borne the largest burden of response and preparedness activities to date. This is an initial award for those communities which require immediate assistance for activities such as monitoring of travelers, data management, lab equipment, supplies, staffing, shipping, infection control, and surge staffing. Coronavirus support will be provided to the rest of the country once these hardest hit places have first been funded.

   

• Award of an initial $10 million cooperative agreement to state and local jurisdictions to begin coronavirus surveillance across the U.S., building on systems used to track influenza. This initial award is also for a limited number of communities.

The CDC will be disbursing the funds and $250,000 is coming to Georgia.

“State and local governments are the backbone of our public health system. They have been essential partners in the ongoing work to contain and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the United States,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar. “The Trump Administration is acting swiftly through every avenue we have to ensure state and local governments have the support they need to combat this outbreak.”

MAP: Coronavirus in Georgia